Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Two new reports examine data on public employee compensation, pension costs





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Two new reports examine data on public employee compensation, pension costs


March 7, 2011

Across the country there has recently been extensive attention focused on issues relating to public employee compensation.  Two new reports from MassBudget examine the available data on public employee compensation and state pension costs in Massachusetts.  In looking at compensation the reports also consider the broader context: across the country, inequality has been increasing with wages for less-educated workers stagnating.

The first paper, Workforce Characteristics and Wages in the Public and Private Sectors, finds that wage outcomes differ across sectors by education level.  Workers with at least a four-year college degree (60 percent of the public sector workforce) earn less in the public sector than in the private sector in Massachusetts -- even after accounting for benefits.  For those workers without a college degree, overall compensation appears to be higher in the public sector, as the wage gap between more and less educated workers is not as great as in the private sector.

A companion report, Demystifying the State Pension System, explains how the Massachusetts public employee pension system works and what the state costs are.  It finds that while public employees have good pensions, those pensions are financed primarily by contributions made by public employees to the pension fund (and by the investment earnings of the fund).  The amount the state pays towards the pensions of current employees is less than the amount paid in most states -- and less than the amount paid by most private employers.  This is partly because state employees are not eligible for Social Security -- which means that the state saves the 6.2 percent (of the first $106,800 of salary) that private sector employers pay towards Social Security.  The amount the state pays into the pension fund for current employees is significantly less than 6 percent.

"Workforce Characteristics and Wages in the Public and Private Sectors" is available at www.massbudget.org or by clicking here.

"Demystifying the State Pension System" is available
by clicking here.


See MassBudget's Budget Browser to explore Massachusetts state budgets from Fiscal Year 2001 to the present, as well as budget proposals for the next fiscal year as they are offered by the Governor and the Legislature.    

MassBudget provides independent research and analysis of state budget and tax policies, as well as economic issues, with particular attention to the effects on low- and moderate-income people.


This email was sent to shersteve@gmail.com by info@massbudget.org |  
Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center | 15 Court Square | Suite 700 | Boston | MA | 02108

"We call him the Energizer Bunny"

"The timing is just mind-boggling," Cusson, 43, said yesterday recalling the Presidents Day incident. "I just feel like God had me there at the exact right time." 
If Cusson hadn't gotten the milk, she would have arrived five minutes earlier, been occupied helping her grandmother and may not have noticed Thornhill's internal defibrillator had been activated. 
The machine, which goes into action when a person has a heart attack or irregular heartbeat, went off at least three times, attempting to shock his heart back into a normal rhythm. 
However, the defibrillator was unable to get his heart working properly again and he had a heart attack, Cusson said. 
"Had I been a few steps further away, I might not have heard him," said Cusson, who also lives in Franklin and is a nursing student at MassBay Community College in Framingham. "I called 911. ... His eyes started to roll back. And then he passed out. I kicked the feet out of the chair and then laid him down on the floor and started CPR."

Read more: Franklin woman saves grandfather from heart attack


Franklin, MA

Monday, March 7, 2011

FM #88 - Week ending 3/6/11

Lets take less than ten minutes to review what matters in Franklin, MA as the week ends March 6, 2011.

Time: 6 minutes, 20 seconds



Show Notes

This internet radio show or podcast is number 88 in the series for Franklin Matters.

We'll look back at the week that was as it comes to a close Sunday March 6. Then we will look at what is scheduled for the week ahead.

The Community Gardens group meet on Monday night in the Community Room of Stop & Shop. It is good to see such a group beginning this endeavor.

My notes from the meeting are here
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/02/live-reporting-community-garden.html

The FinCom meeting on Tuesday was canceled as expected. The State numbers are too preliminary to begin to work with at this time. The current expectation is that by mid-month there should be some indication as to the range of numbers available from the State to begin planning.

The Town Council held a very brief meeting on Wednesday. I caught the replay via the video on demand in order to participate in the Friends of the Library meeting. It was a very good choice to make. My report is available here.
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/03/library-and-friends-clear-air.html

Be sure to review the update on the tax donation status of gifts to the Library. With the standard disclaimer that I am not providing tax advice just information, check with your tax preparer how to handle this with your particular situation.
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/03/re-franklin-library-blog-posting.html

The Community Health Council met on Thursday evening featuring an update from Peter Light on the health related activities at the high school. More information on the calendar of events coordinated by the Council can be found here http://www.franklin.ma.us/auto/schools/FPS/CHC/default.htm

Looking ahead:

The Long Range Financial Planning committee meets on Wednesday. The group will likely be continuing to develop its understanding of the financial issues around the Franklin budget.

The Pew Internet and American Life Project released a report that showed:

"... government transparency is associated with residents’ feelings of efficacy and empowerment: Those who think their government shares information well are more likely to say that people like them can have an impact on government. It might be the case that signals from government that “we want to be open about what we do” make people think they can take advantage of that openness and influence the way the government operates."
This report helps foster the activities that you and I have been taking here. Our engagement on the website,through the weekly and daily newsletters, and on Facebook are helping to encourage Franklin to do more in these areas. Franklin regularly wins an award for for government information sharing but it can still do better. One of the major issues with the budget crisis we face is the lack of trust in the information provided. Increasing the transparency will foster trust.

The full report can be found here:
http://www.pewinternet.org/2011/03/01/how-the-public-perceives-community-information-systems/

---- ---- ----

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin. I can use your help.

How can you help, you ask?

If you have an interest in covering the Planning Board, Conservation Commission and or the Zoning Board of Appeals meetings in Franklin, please let me know.

And as always
  • If you like this, please tell your friends and neighbors
  • If you don't like this, please tell me
Through this feedback loop we can continue to improve.

Thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit https://www.franklinmatters.org/
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark and Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission

I hope you enjoy!


Franklin, MA


You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes = search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

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subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters on iTunes

"Repeated freeze-thaw cycles create favorable conditions"

Franklin has had at least one crew of two to five workers out fixing potholes Monday through Saturday and has people on call to respond to emergencies during off hours. 
"The guys are doing a great job," he said. "One day they put down six tons (of material). That was one crew. We have a program where we pretty much hit all the main (streets) and residents are not afraid to call in and tell us where they are." 
But Cantoreggi said it is frustrating to deal with potholes every year. The problem is exacerbated because towns have not been able to keep up with road repairs, he said, noting Franklin needs $20 million in road resurfacing and reconstruction work.

Read more: Towns fixing up winter-ravaged streets

Franklin, MA

"Franklin has developed a reputation as a business-friendly community"

"Part of it is that the economy is starting to loosen up a little bit, and the Franklin area is just prime for almost any new business," said Jack Lank, president of the United Regional Chamber of Commerce. 
The Franklin Cafe and Grill, which will serve Mediterranean and American food, is expected to open in a few weeks in the former Kentucky Fried Chicken building near Panther Way. 
In October, owners of the hibachi and sushi bar Ichigo Ichie plan to open in the old Piccadilly Pub just beyond where West Central Street and Rte. 140 split. 
And local businessman James Daddario hopes to begin construction of a Wendy's and Taco Bell at the old Knights of Columbus hall this spring. 
Lank said the availability of several vacant restaurant buildings on a busy road near Interstate 495 created a perfect opportunity for new businesses.

Read more: New restaurants hope to succeed in Franklin

Franklin, MA

Sunday, March 6, 2011

How do you do the impossible?

French artist JR creates a bridge with his art. Photos of peoples faces, side by side, face to face - how can you tell who is who?

Art asks questions that sometimes can not be asked with words.



Behind each image is a story.

The Inside out project website can be found here
http://www.insideoutproject.net/



Franklin, MA

Bill Gates on State budgets and Education

TED Talks are the visual presentations of an idea from significant thinkers that gather at TED each year. TED has also spawned a number of conferences under the TED umbrella; TEDx, TEDWomen, etc.

Bill Gates spoke at this year's TED conference about the impact of government deficits on education. He focused on California but the comments are applicable for other states.

If the youth are our future, how do we prepare them to take care of this whole place?




The collection of information for the Fiscal Year 2012 budget can be found here:
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/01/fiscal-year-2012-budget-information.html


Franklin, MA