Title
Resolution Urging Voters to Vote YES on Issue Two November 8th
Version
dj/ils
Body
WHEREAS, Gahanna City Council had asked the Governor and the Legislature for relief in helping us control our labor costs; and
WHEREAS, we got that relief in the form of SB5 legislation; and
WHEREAS, Gahanna and the rest of taxpayers in Ohio will save roughly $1.3 billion per year if local governments use the tools provided to them under SB5; and
WHEREAS, the majority of spending in the City of Gahanna is on salaries and benefits for employees which has increased at a rate which far exceeds the private sector; and
WHEREAS, Ohio's school district and local government spending exceeded tax revenues, or was projected to exceed tax revenue, in the next year or two; and
WHEREAS, in 69 out of 88 counties, local government workers earn more than their private sector neighbors; and
WHEREAS, most government workers pay less than the private sector average of 23 percent for their health care premiums and receive sick pay benefits five times greater than their private sector neighbors; and
WHEREAS, taxpayers pay between 14 percent and 34.5 percent of each government worker's salary for retirement compared to private sector Ohioans receiving roughly 10.2 percent (4 percent average employer 401(k) match plus 6.2 percent for the employer Social Security payment); and
WHEREAS, the death and injury rates over the last decade for fire fighters and police officers in states that don't allow government workers to collectively bargain is the same as states like Ohio that allow government workers to collectively bargain; and
WHEREAS, government managers need the same flexibility to manage their workplaces as private sector managers possess; and
WHEREAS, SB5 protects the rights of government workers who choose not to join a union or pay dues to a union; and
WHEREAS, SB5 requires that governments publish the costs of labor contracts so taxpayers can get a truly transparent picture; and
WHEREAS, SB5 eliminates step increases and longevity bonuses and requires governments to focus on performance and merit; and
WHEREAS, SB5 does not eliminate the basic legal protections afforded government workers under civil service laws, discrimination laws, wage and hour laws, environmental laws, and other labor and employment laws; and
WHEREAS, reforming Ohio's collective bargaining by government workers is one of the few ways government leaders can rein in compensation packages, gain vital workplace efficiencies and control their budgets;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GAHANNA, STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1. That this Council urges the voters of Gahanna and throughout the State of Ohio to Vote YES on Issue 2 and retain the law which allows State and Local Governments and School Boards to control out of control costs on government worker compensation packages.
Section 2. That this resolution shall be in full force and effect at the earliest period allowed by law.