Retiree health care, pensions focus of new Gov. Snyder task force
LANSING, MI -- Two months after lame-duck efforts to address public retiree health care costs at the local level folded, Gov. Rick Snyder has formed a task force to study the issue.
"My goal for this task force is to have collaboration among legislators, state and local government officials, and employee representatives to ensure the financial stability and effective delivery of local government services for the coming decades," Gov. Snyder said. "As we discuss this growing financial problem across the state it is imperative that we also keep retirees in mind who rely on these programs."
Former House Speaker Kevin Cotter, R-Mt. Pleasant, had proposed a plan late last year that would have required local units of government whose retirement health care plans aren't well-funded to pay 80 percent or less of retiree health care benefits. Retirees would have to pay the remaining 20-plus percent.
But shortly before the plan was due for a second committee hearing, Cotter took it off the table, citing a need for more information on municipal finances.
Read more: http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2017/02/retiree_health_care_pensions_f.html