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Calif. dept. faces 62 layoffs unless members pay for pension

City cites $15.7 million deficit, asks unions to pick up entire employee share of pension

By Ryan Lillis
Sacramento Bee

SACRAMENTO, Calif. Sacramento’s police officers and firefighters have been presented with a stark choice: They can contribute more toward their pensions, or watch nearly 100 of their comrades lose their jobs.

In a budget proposal considered among the most draconian the city has faced, City Manager John Shirey on Thursday recommended laying off 62 firefighters and 34 police officers to address a $15.7 million deficit for the fiscal year that begins July 1. Another 10 Police Department employees also would lose their jobs under the proposal.

Those layoffs could be avoided, Shirey said, if public safety workers agree to pick up the entirety of the employee share of their CalPERS contributions.

Full Story: Sacramento cops, firefighters face layoffs unless they give more to pensions