City of Sarasota residents Please support the Police dept. (Bradenton: real estate, crime rate)

[Picshooter]

The City of Sarasota is quietly threatening to replace Police Officer Pensions to one with a much lesser value.
I am asking that City residents and guests show their support for the Sarasota Police Department by E Mailing or calling the City Commissioners as well as the City Manager.

If the new deal comes to fruition, we will see a exodus of quality officers, and their replacements will certainly be of a lesser quality.
And no offense to our neighbors, Sarasota is a special place. There is a reason the crime rate is lower than our neighbors.

Please E Mail or call to show your support. Thank you.

Inside City Government

Mayor Suzanne Atwell: Suzanne.Atwell@sarasotagov.com

Vice Mayor Terry Turner: Terry.Turner@sarasotagov.com

Commissioner Paul Carigiulo: Paul.Caragiulo@sarasotagov.com

Commissioner Willie Shaw: Willie.Shaw@sarasotagov.com

Commissioner Shannon Snyder: Shannon.Snyder@sarasotagov.com

City Manager Robert Bartolotta: robert.bartolotta@sarasotagov.com

[dorothyfromKansas]

You ask us to support them which is fine. Can you tell us how much they are making and what the existing benefits are? Maybe they have gotten out of line???

Here is a letter that was in the newspaper (not Sarasota):

"When it comes to pay for police officers or firefighters, we want it to match the job requirements and the hazards they will face. They are the first responders, and that's respected.

The pay should also fit the cost of living in the area and be comparable to what other officers make in the same capacity in that region. Benefits should be comparable to private-sector benefits so they are sustainable.

However, politicians' priorities don't always follow prudent fiscal policy. We can't accept the emotionally charged reasoning that uniformed personnel just deserve it. Taxpayers don't deserve lack of foresight from their politicians. Generous retirement benefits are about politicians' securing power and keeping it.

Politicians should have done a better job understanding what they were doing from the start. Now the problem is out of hand, but the taxpayer will have to fix it or suffer the cost. It's not going to be pretty, but we have no choice."

[Skunk Workz]

Originally Posted by Picshooter

And no offense to our neighbors, Sarasota is a special place. There is a reason the crime rate is lower than our neighbors.

No offense to Sarasota residents, but that's just not true. Unless something dramatic has happened in the last 18 months, the City of Bradenton has had a lower overall crime index than the City of Sarasota since 2004. Including about half the number of murders and rapes. Prior to 2004 the two cities tied, or traded places most years.

Crime stats are in a large table about 1/3 of the way down.

//www.city-data.com/city/Sarasota-Florida.html

//www.city-data.com/city/Bradenton-Florida.html

[Picshooter]

Dorothy,
Thank you for reading.
Here's the City's webpage:

Online Services

The salary schedule and qualifications are posted. As far as out of line, they haven't been increased, the city wants to get away from paying what was promised. Officers sign an agreement when they are sworn in. Now the City wants to change that agreement.

Originally Posted by dorothyfromKansas

You ask us to support them which is fine. Can you tell us how much they are making and what the existing benefits are? Maybe they have gotten out of line???

Here is a letter that was in the newspaper (not Sarasota):

"When it comes to pay for police officers or firefighters, we want it to match the job requirements and the hazards they will face. They are the first responders, and that's respected.

The pay should also fit the cost of living in the area and be comparable to what other officers make in the same capacity in that region. Benefits should be comparable to private-sector benefits so they are sustainable.

However, politicians' priorities don't always follow prudent fiscal policy. We can't accept the emotionally charged reasoning that uniformed personnel just deserve it. Taxpayers don't deserve lack of foresight from their politicians. Generous retirement benefits are about politicians' securing power and keeping it.

Politicians should have done a better job understanding what they were doing from the start. Now the problem is out of hand, but the taxpayer will have to fix it or suffer the cost. It's not going to be pretty, but we have no choice."

[Picshooter]

Skunk Workz,

Thank you too for reading. The City of Bradenton may very well have a lower crime rate, but so will Venice and others.I don't mean any disrespect to anyone The point I was attempting to make is that Sarasota is a special place, like Bradenton is to you. If Bradenton was to contemplate the same cuts for their officers I would hope folks would stand up for them as well.
I have in mind the violence in Manatee County, (the mass shootings last week) and comparing that to the City of Sarasota.
Take care.

Originally Posted by Skunk Workz

No offense to Sarasota residents, but that's just not true. Unless something dramatic has happened in the last 18 months, the City of Bradenton has had a lower overall crime index than the City of Sarasota since 2004. Including about half the number of murders and rapes. Prior to 2004 the two cities tied, or traded places most years.

Crime stats are in a large table about 1/3 of the way down.

//www.city-data.com/city/Sarasota-Florida.html

//www.city-data.com/city/Bradenton-Florida.html

[dorothyfromKansas]

Originally Posted by Picshooter

Dorothy,
Thank you for reading.
Here's the City's webpage:

Online Services

The salary schedule and qualifications are posted. As far as out of line, they haven't been increased, the city wants to get away from paying what was promised. Officers sign an agreement when they are sworn in. Now the City wants to change that agreement.

Thanks for the link so how are the comps:

"The pay should also fit the cost of living in the area and be comparable to what other officers make in the same capacity in that region. Benefits should be comparable to private-sector benefits so they are sustainable."

[Picshooter]

Dorothy,

Here's the Sarasota Sheriff's: Sarasota County Sheriff's Office - deputy sheriff

It's the pension benefits that are being discussed. They aren't asking for a raise, only what they signed on for.
Imagine being recruited for a career by a few employers, choosing one based on their salary & benefits, do an exemplary job for years, then have the boss come to you and say "sorry we can't honor your contract" I forgot to write that it's not for all officers, just the ones with less than 10 years service.
While they spend money on other things.

Originally Posted by dorothyfromKansas

Thanks for the link so how are the comps:

"The pay should also fit the cost of living in the area and be comparable to what other officers make in the same capacity in that region. Benefits should be comparable to private-sector benefits so they are sustainable."

[Coachgns]

The Pensions the officers receive can be considerably lower than what was promised to them when they signed on. They will also be the only police force in the US with this type of pension - one that will pay them nothing if injured in the line of duty.

One of the City COmmission candidates told a group of us about this possible change, and how he was very much against it, so at least one of the current commissioners will not be agreeing to this change.

[Picshooter]

Thats's only one. I believe I know which one it is. I had another tell me he was for the Police Department but so far his actions show different.
I would like to know the Commission's real reasons. It seems like they forget they work for the residents.
BTW, I am not employed by the City.

Originally Posted by Coachgns

The Pensions the officers receive can be considerably lower than what was promised to them when they signed on. They will also be the only police force in the US with this type of pension - one that will pay them nothing if injured in the line of duty.

One of the City COmmission candidates told a group of us about this possible change, and how he was very much against it, so at least one of the current commissioners will not be agreeing to this change.

[d4g4m]

The City of Sarasota has only 52,000 residents. City services are paid by property owner real estate taxes, both county and city. If Lido and Bird Keys were not in the city limits, the city would be in deep financial troubles, because most of the properties in the city proper are not paying much in taxes. Most of the residents are either retired, unemployed, under employed and receiving some kind of government assistance and a majority are not paying federal incocme tax.
The city management hires and hired people with agreed upon salaries, benefits and retirement plan with the unions. They are stuck with it.
If the city wants to make changes to a retirement benefit, it should be ONLY for new employees.
And why is the city concerned about revenue to pay for salaries and benefits anyway. By this winter there will be 11 revenue collecting cameras installed on traffic lights to rake in millions of dollars a year.