Contra Costa Taxpayers Association

The $100,000 Pension Club is making news. The $100,000 Club is the brainchild of the California Foundation for Fiscal Responsibility. Over 5,000 members who receive pension of $100,000 or more from government entities that use the CalPERS pension system can be found at www.CaliforniaPensions.com.

For the curious, Concord has 15 members headed by their former City Manager, Ed James, at $167,180 per year. Walnut Creek has 10 members, with former police chief Tom Soberanes at $179,399 leading the pack. Richmond has 49 members headed by Charles Bennett, the former police chief, at $172,200.

The idea behind revealing those making over $100,000 is not to “out” anyone, but to call to the attention of taxpayers that some members of government (particularly safety) are receiving some very generous pensions. Of real concern are those granted pensions that actually exceed the amount they earned before they retired.

The blame (and solutions) to the pension problems are in the hands of elected officials. No one should blame the pensioners who are legally entitled to the amounts granted. Governments cannot continue to have people retire as early as age 50 and receive generous retirement benefits. This does not include all employees, but the drain on the system is becoming enormous.