Title
A RESOLUTION URGING THE OHIO GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO REEXAMINE AND RECONSIDER STATE LAWS LIMITING THE ABILITY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO CONTROL PERSONNEL COSTS
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WHEREAS, the City of Gahanna employs over 270 full and part-time employees to provide core municipal services to its citizens; and
WHEREAS, the City of Gahanna has 64% of its full time employees in collective bargaining units of which 44% are employed in public safety divisions and are part of public safety unions; and
WHEREAS, approximately 60% of all expenditures from the City's general fund are for personnel costs including salaries and benefits and any increases to these salaries and benefits dictated by the collective bargaining process significantly impact the City's general fund and ability to provide services to its citizens; and
WHEREAS, public safety services employees in bargaining units have specific dictates by the Ohio Revised Code, which mandates they are unable to strike and therefore, must participate in a fact finding and third party binding arbitration process. This process involves a neutral party from outside of our City to facilitate hearings whereby they are primarily required to review the City's financial status and comparable wage data and wage increases; and
WHEREAS, the City was unable to obtain an agreement with one of its public safety services bargaining units in 2010 and took the matter through the fact finding and arbitration process thereby costing the City $25,000 plus in legal fees, employee time, and fact finder/arbitrator fees; and
WHEREAS, the City is experiencing a declining trend in revenue and is attempting to control its health insurance benefit costs with wellness and incentive programs similar to the private sector with the employee share of premiums going as high as 15% and the fact finder awarded 2.5%, 2.5% and 3.0% wage increases for 2010, 2011, and 2012 as well as termed the City's health and wellness program 'Draconian' and increased employee premiums to only 7%, 8%, and 9% from the current 6%; and
WHEREAS, the City Council voted down the fact finder award and moved into binding conciliation, and has been waiting for the final award since June, 2010 when the hearing occurred; and
WHEREAS, the collective bargaining process can be arduous, expensive, and the results determined by a third party who makes decisions that affect our citizens so dramatically after only spending 8-16 hours hearing presentations from all parties,
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GAHANNA, STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1. That this Council and Administration urges the General Assembly to reexamine and reconsider Ohio's public employee collective bargaining law as quickly as possible.
Section 2. That this resolution shall take effect and be in force at the earliest period allowed by law.