Some simple arithmetic and a glance at your voter’s pamphlet will reveal the absurdity of the claims made in the statement against Initiative 790.
It states, “For 2003-2007 alone, the cost may reach a staggering $1.37 billion.” Here’s the law: Section 6, paragraph 3 of I-790 states that “in no instance shall the state contribution exceed 4 percent of covered payroll” and likewise “in no instance shall the employer contribution exceed 6 percent of covered payroll.” Their combined contribution cannot exceed 10 percent. Here’s the math: Spending $1.37 billion on 13,000 police and firefighters works out to $20,000 per year for each employee. For this to happen the average salary of covered employees would have to be $200,000 a year.
This is absolutely absurd and the authors of the statement against I-790 should know it yet they put their names to it and published it in a document that the voters have a right to trust. Their claim of a six-fold increase in their contributions is likewise a mathematical and legal impossibility. And they fail to mention that the state and employers have cut their contributions by almost 50 percent in the past two years. Nor do they mention that I-790 does not mandate any increase in contributions and that any such recommendations made by the board would be subject to legislative review and veto.
The authors of the statement against include a state senator and the president of the Association of Washington Cities. Their misleading statement tells you how they do business and should clarify why Washington’s firefighters and police officers do not trust these people to administer their retirement fund. Please vote yes on I-790.
Marysville
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
