Last Wednesday (September 10th) the Board of Aldermen passed R-14-061, the salary contract with the police patrolman's association valid from 2011 to 2018. It passed 13 - 2. I voted against it because the city cannot afford it.
Let me note that I am partial toward the police. The current crime rate is as low now as it was when Nashua was selected as one of America's Most Livable Cities, credit due to the police (as well as all of us who choose not to break the law.) My career has been in the industry of developing hardware protecting the lives of our military and first responders. I am impressed with the integrity and reputation of the Nashua Police Department. As I travel for business I read the local papers. All too often I read about one scandal after another associated with the local police department - not Nashua. And I have a good working relationship with the department leadership and the police commission.
The salary contract provides base salary increases of 2.5% for FY17, and 3% per year for FY16, FY17, and FY18. On top of these base increases are 1% increases due to step increases and promotions. Compare this to the consumer price index (CPI) which averaged over the last three years was 2.1% and is expected to be even lower next year. Where I work the average salary increases were around 2% - for those who were not laid off during the extra-lean years of 2009 - 2012.
The City of Nashua has a spending cap defined by the CPI. This past budget cycle the spending cap was exceeded via a vote of 11-4 (I voted against it). A common justification I heard was "we have salary obligations we can't change and we must meet, therefore we have to spend the money." Yet here we were not two months after that vote faced with the obligation of planning for next year and I heard only one other Alderman talk of fiscal prudence.
One aldermen said we should set our priorities across the city if we choose to exceed the CPI for this contract. I agree with his logic. Unfortunately the majority of the board is unwilling to set priorities and restrict budget growth elsewhere. One aldermen said that we should be fair and give all future contracts the same pay increase and be ready to deal with it (presumably by another spending cap override) during our next budget cycle. During June's budget discussion one Alderman simply said that New Hampshire's tax burden is near the lowest in the country and can handle the increase. Last Wednesday one alderman stated that he was strongly against the contract until the impression of all the patrolmen in the Aldermanic Chamber in full dress changed his mind.
Overlooked during this discussion was the 29.5% increase in retirement costs in FY14, 27.5% increase in FY16 and the 27% increase in FY18. All told the entire contract will appear to the taxpayers as an average of 6.2% increase for each of FY16, FY17, and FY18.
We just survived the worst recession since the Great Depression of 1930's. During public comment the sole person in opposition provided facts stating the country-wide average salary has decreased 7% since 2008 - decreased. (I have read this same statistic elsewhere.)
I recognize the huge service the Nashua Police Department provides but I believe that our department would continue to thrive with a salary structure which can be sustained by the residents of Nashua. Currently there is only one (at most two) other aldermen who agree. The other aldermen can continue to listen to each other's justification to overspend. I prefer to listen to the majority of the residents of Nashua who support me when I say: I will not vote to put us in a position to have to exceed the spending cap. I will not vote to exceed the spending cap.
Let me note that I am partial toward the police. The current crime rate is as low now as it was when Nashua was selected as one of America's Most Livable Cities, credit due to the police (as well as all of us who choose not to break the law.) My career has been in the industry of developing hardware protecting the lives of our military and first responders. I am impressed with the integrity and reputation of the Nashua Police Department. As I travel for business I read the local papers. All too often I read about one scandal after another associated with the local police department - not Nashua. And I have a good working relationship with the department leadership and the police commission.
The salary contract provides base salary increases of 2.5% for FY17, and 3% per year for FY16, FY17, and FY18. On top of these base increases are 1% increases due to step increases and promotions. Compare this to the consumer price index (CPI) which averaged over the last three years was 2.1% and is expected to be even lower next year. Where I work the average salary increases were around 2% - for those who were not laid off during the extra-lean years of 2009 - 2012.
The City of Nashua has a spending cap defined by the CPI. This past budget cycle the spending cap was exceeded via a vote of 11-4 (I voted against it). A common justification I heard was "we have salary obligations we can't change and we must meet, therefore we have to spend the money." Yet here we were not two months after that vote faced with the obligation of planning for next year and I heard only one other Alderman talk of fiscal prudence.
One aldermen said we should set our priorities across the city if we choose to exceed the CPI for this contract. I agree with his logic. Unfortunately the majority of the board is unwilling to set priorities and restrict budget growth elsewhere. One aldermen said that we should be fair and give all future contracts the same pay increase and be ready to deal with it (presumably by another spending cap override) during our next budget cycle. During June's budget discussion one Alderman simply said that New Hampshire's tax burden is near the lowest in the country and can handle the increase. Last Wednesday one alderman stated that he was strongly against the contract until the impression of all the patrolmen in the Aldermanic Chamber in full dress changed his mind.
Overlooked during this discussion was the 29.5% increase in retirement costs in FY14, 27.5% increase in FY16 and the 27% increase in FY18. All told the entire contract will appear to the taxpayers as an average of 6.2% increase for each of FY16, FY17, and FY18.
We just survived the worst recession since the Great Depression of 1930's. During public comment the sole person in opposition provided facts stating the country-wide average salary has decreased 7% since 2008 - decreased. (I have read this same statistic elsewhere.)
I recognize the huge service the Nashua Police Department provides but I believe that our department would continue to thrive with a salary structure which can be sustained by the residents of Nashua. Currently there is only one (at most two) other aldermen who agree. The other aldermen can continue to listen to each other's justification to overspend. I prefer to listen to the majority of the residents of Nashua who support me when I say: I will not vote to put us in a position to have to exceed the spending cap. I will not vote to exceed the spending cap.
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