The road crew, members of AFSCME District Council 88, will see their wages rise by one, two and three percent in each of the next three years. A truck driver earning $54,100 a year will see payhikes over the next three years of $541, $1,102 and $1,706.
Police officers will see salaries rise over the next three years by 2.75, 3 and 3.5 per cent. A Senior Patrol Officer earning $75,878 per year will see pay increases of $2,087 in 2018, $2,339 in 2019 and $2,810 in 2020.
Both unions have agreed to contribute more to the cost of their health insurance. There's currently a $50 monthly co-pay for single coverage and $100 for family coverage. Starting in 2020, that monthly co-pay will increase to $75 for single and $150 for family coverage.
In 2018, the average individual medical premium is projected at $11,859. For families, it is $28,432.
These contracts were negotiated over a period of about three months.
Township administrators will see a two per cent raise.
In other business, Commissioners approved a survey of township residents that will be mailed and also appear online. The survey will educate Commissioners on numerous quality of life issues as well as continued participation in the Bethlehem Area Public Library. Over Malissa Davis' objection, Commissioners voted to remove a question that would have polled residents about a single hauler for trash.
10 comments:
I wonder if questions like should they sell the community center & out source the police protection? Single hauler trash is a valid question too.
Not every municipality is as irresponsible as Bath. You could have gone to the meeting and raised these points after identifying yourself. You lack the personal integrity to do so.
Police, almost puts them in parity with Colonial Regional; the highest paid police force in Northampton County.
Bernie ---is your statement in reply to 12:13. If it is I don't understand it or you are nuts! You talk about Bath. I think you are nuts lately because of all the winning that is happening in the White House.
Seems like Hanover, Bethlehem Township, and Freemansburg would make a good regional police force.
Single Hauler should be considered. The quality of life increases in a township with single hauler. Ask Hanover-one supervisor told me best thing they ever did.
"If it is I don't understand it or you are nuts! You talk about Bath. I think you are nuts lately because of all the winning that is happening in the White House."
Di you think I give a shit what some anonymous coward thinks? A person who wants to slam the policed and community center, but never shows up at a meeting, is a coward. And knowing now that you detest my snarks at authoritarian Donald Trump, I'll make more. he is a threat to our constitution and democracy. But this post is about BT, not him. Stick to the subject or be deleted. And try growing a backbone.
Republicans don't care any more about spending and Bethlehem Twp is the worst when it comes to spending taxpayer monies. When does it end?
I am grateful to live in BT, and the largely professional and competent workforce that we have. Just going from your reported numbers, in the third year, medical copay goes up $600 a year. If you subtract the raise you report, that means the Road Crew sees a raise of $42.54 per pay (or $21.27 per week) minus taxes. For the Police at reported average, that would be a raise of $84 per pay (or $42.50 per week) minus taxes. No, the Twp should not give a blank check. The final year 3.5% is really pushing it, but is offset by the larger co-pays. However, I do not see the overall 3 year deal as being unreasonable. Of greater concern is the ever increasing cost of the health insurance. That is what is blowing up municipal and private sector budgets.
As to the suggestion of eliminating/regionalizing the Police Dept, for a suburban community our size, and the increased volume and nature of crime being off Routes 22, 78, and 33, I find unwise and reckless to fulfill some personal minimalist government ideology. We are fortunate to have the force that we have, and equally fortunate to still be able to get by with a volunteer fire Dept. Imagine doubling your public safety budget once we need a full-time paid Dept.
To somebody just seeing final numbers, 3.5% may sound like a lot, because it is higher than the official national inflation rate. And seeing just year-end salary increases, too. But, $21-42 (minus taxes) a week for most people is barely breaking even, at best. Despite inflation rate, living expenses--whether they be because of health, growing kids, etc, tends to increase. But that applies to all, pubic servant or private sector. Wish they could be paid more for the great service they provide, but I'm sure any reader is thinking, don't we all.
I think a much bigger issue your post touches on, that affects all of us, is the cost of insurance and the cost of medical care in this nation. You mention $28,432 for/per families the employer (Twp, in this case) pays. Multiply that by the number of employees a business or govt entity has. And have you looked at bills or Explanation of Benefits you get? And I know some who are paying substantial monthly co-pays. While they may accept less from insurance, having a baby or needing the unexpected trip to the ER, can be in the tens of thousands of dollars for a healthy outcome. If complications? Somehow, as a nation, we need to come together (unlike what is happening in DC) and find a way to address the cost of health care.
The idea that cops don't need the training and education at a level of a medical doctor with commensurate pay and benifits is just nuts.
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