HUNTINGTON BEACH : Official Asks Review of Employees Benefits

Councilman David Sullivan charged last week that city employees have a “Rolls-Royce” benefit package and believes the City Council should review it before negotiations with employee unions start this spring.

Sullivan said the city has “good employees,” but, “I have a real problem when the employees’ benefits so greatly exceed those of the taxpayers who have to pay for them.”

City employees pay nothing for their benefits.

Sullivan said he asked the city staff how much the city pays each year for employee benefits and became concerned about the figures.

For instance, Sullivan said, the city’s cost for medical benefits is $4.7 million a year. Other costs are $450,000 for long-term disability; $731,000 for dental coverage; $134,000 for life insurance coverage, and $397,000 for supplement retirement benefits.

“I hope to bring the issue to the bargaining table this year. The employee benefits need to be restructured,” he said.

Tom Hasty, president of the Municipal Employees Assn., the largest city union with about 440 members, said the benefits are not excessive.

“We don’t have the Rolls-Royce package or the Cadillac package,” Hasty said. “Our benefit package is not out of line compared to other cities.”

Personnel Director William H. Osness said he is surveying other cities similar in size to Huntington Beach to find out what benefit packages are offered. He said the survey should be completed next month and will be given to the council.