8/9/2019 033 Bradford Opposes Mayor's Selective Retiree Ins Premium Hike

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/033-bradford-opposes-mayors-selective-retiree-ins-premium-hike 1/1

To: Mayor Annise D. Parker

From: C.O. “Brad” Bradford

Date: March 31, 2010

Subject: Proposed increase in retirees healthcare insurance premiums

Mayor Parker:

The proposed plan to increase a targeted group of city of Houston retirees’

healthcare insurance premiums by 49% will be absolutely detrimental to thousands of

former city employees under 65 years of age. I understand that resources have

dwindled and frugal fiscal decisions must be made. However, I have had meetings,

received emails, letters, and hundreds of phone calls from retirees, family members

of retirees, surviving beneficiaries, and active employees nearing retirement

asking that your decision to shift this extreme burden to one group of retirees be

re-visited.

I have expressed for months that we must reduce our spending at the city of Houston

and focus on “core services.” A focus on core services will help us to determine

what is really important among the many activities that the city of Houston is

engaged in today. Our employees, and especially those who have served the citizens

of Houston and retired, must be provided benefits that they have worked for andearned, and were promised when they retired. Though the proposed insurance fee

structure has segmented personnel into three (3) groups, we must not forget that

all are participants in the city of Houston Healthcare Plan. Therefore, whether

personnel fall into the active, retiree under 65 yoa, or retiree over 65 yoa group,

the city of Houston has an obligation that must be met.

Many of the personnel not in the less than 65 yoa group have expressed

dissatisfaction and outrage at the proposal to shift a 49% increase in premiums to

one segment of the three groups. They have voiced a willingness to participate in a

plan that would more evenly spread the burden of the necessary increase over all

three groups. This is plausible since the City pays the same amount for personnel

in all three groups and allocating the spread more evenly would not cost the City

any additional money. Thus, whatever anticipated savings are realized under the

proposal would remain in place.

There are other options available to help resolve this issue very amicably and with

input from the thousands of active and retired personnel being impacted by the

proposed action. We must support our retirees; they worked, earned and were

promised benefits when they retired!

The proposed increase in healthcare premiums must be re-visited. Thanks for your

consideration.

Respectfully submitted,

C.O. “Brad” Bradford

Houston City Council Member

cc: Houston Police Retired Officers Association

Houston Organization of Public Employees

Houston Police Officers Union

Houston Municipal Employees Pension System

Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association

Houston Firefighters Relief and Retirement Fund

Houston Police Officers Pension System

Houston City Council Members