What do tax dollars pay for? O let me count the ways. From The Free Enterprise Nation:
In the first quarter of 2010, employees in the private sector earned $300 billion LESS than they earned in the last quarter of 2007, while governments grew and their payrolls increased.
In 2010, there are 3 million FEWER workers in the private sector than there were 10 years ago, but 2 million MORE working in government. That's why they want more taxes from fewer workers.
At the end of 2009, average compensation and benefits to federal workers was $123,049, as compared with $61,051 for private sector workers. And, during 2009, federal workers got an average of 6.9% in raises and two new employee benefits!
State and local government and public education workers averaged $82,492 in compensation and benefits in 2008, more than $25,000 a year MORE than private sector workers.
The average taxpayer who actually PAID income taxes in 2008 paid $10,000 that year. That was enough to pay ONE federal worker for ONE MONTH!
n San Francisco, one of every three city workers earns more than $100,000 a year. The AVERAGE pay is $93,000! The number earning more than $100,000 increased by 800% in the last decade.
At the University of Connecticut, there are 29 people who are being paid to work full time while they are also collecting pensions of over $100,000 a year.
In Illinois, there are teachers earning salaries of more than $150,000 a year (for 9 months work), who can retire at 75% of pay after 30 years, or 100% of pay after 40 years…with guaranteed 3% raises every year, and free health insurance.
In Miami, Florida, the city’s pension contribution for 2011 is $101 million, accounting for almost the entire projected $105 million budget gap. The average city resident earns $29,151; the average city employee’s salary is $75,961 per year. Nearly half of the city’s employees earn $100,000 or more; 186 earned over $200,000. Average firefighter’s salary was $118,000 in 2009; 8 of Miami’s top 10 earners are firefighters, making over $336,000 per year in salary and benefits.
Unfunded liabilities for Social Security and Medicare are estimated to be $106 TRILLION, eight times more than Congress says the US debt is.
New York – In Suffolk County, there are currently 500 police officers earning over $150,000 per year.
A Long Island school superintendant collects a $316,000 annual pension while earning $225,000 annually working for a different school district.
The city of Vallejo, CA filed bankruptcy as a direct result of overly generous salaries and pensions; 40% of the city’s employees earned $100,000 or more. Average firefighter’s salary was $170,000 per year. That didn’t prevent the city council from recently approving a 7.5% raise for the city police department.
Bottom Line: Public sector salaries and pensions are busting budgets all across the fruited plain. People are getting tired of it. The time has come for the bloated public sector to "sacrifice". That has to be top priority at the state and local level to reign in spending. Gov. Chris Christie in New Jersey has set the template, and believe me others will follow.
Background Reading:
The Free Enterprise Nation: Look Where Your Tax Dollars Are Going!
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