According the city's Finance Department, in the past twelve years Sunnyvale's employee compensation costs have ballooned from only 62% of General Fund revenue to 77% of General Fund revenue. During that time the city eliminated 150 full-time equivalent employee positions. Clearly, the city has failed to control compensation costs. My plan for getting compensation costs under control includes three elements: Openness in Contract Negotiations, the Sustainable Compensation Forumula, and real Pension Reform.

 

First, I want to borrow an idea from the city of Costa Mesa to bring transparency to City's labor negotiating process. This ordinance will require the city to hire an independent auditor to calculate and publish the long-term budget impact of the proposed labor contracts before the public weighs in on them, and before the Council votes on them.

 

Second, we need a city ordinance to limit the rate of growth of employee compensation to the rate of growth of General Fund tax revenue.

 

Third, we need real pension reform that will reduce our annual PERS costs of $30 million per year; reduce our unfunded pension liability of over $250 million; and allow the city to fulfill its obligations to the employees.

 

For more details, please read the following information:

Paid for by Andy Frazer for Council 2013

FPPC #1354898