Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/110922
Sarasota News Leader February 22, 2013 Page 20 Pensions: did we over-promise and un- Pensions: did we over-promise and under-deliver? der-deliver? Dorfman: I understand the over-promise is [what happened], but in terms of the under-deliver, we continue to be in the process of delivery. So I don���t think we can talk about under-delivery yet. Lumpkin: I���m going to take the long way around. Commissioners are elected, and we have to develop the art of the long view. We have to do our best to see into the future and the impact and the best- and worst-case scenarios. It���s easy to do the expedient thing for I think there were a lot of decisions made in the go-go years that may have come back to now, to please people, [but that] could create bite us in the bottom. But that���s the deal we a conundrum for future commissions. have, and now we have to figure out how to One of the things I���m looking at, Lord help me work with that deal. to see down the road so that I���m not making I think there���s a recognition on the part of the life difficult for commissioners after me, or Police Department and the union that a lot of take the wrong path. things are just not supportable and we���re going to have to figure out a way to meet in the middle and achieve some cost savings. I think there���s recognition on the part of the PD that we have to keep talking. We���ve obviously been able to draw great [police] officers because we have a great [benefits] package. There are some days I think I should have become a police officer right out of college. I���d be sitting good right now. I don���t think the year-and-a-half of intransi- I believe law enforcement officers should be gence in the last negotiations helped either compensated well for the risk they take. party. I think there was a better way to do Every night I ride [along], something crazy that. It���s a discussion that will have to contin- happens. It���s scary. These guys and girls are ue to evolve. risking their lives every day, and we should Have you ever attended any of the three compensate them reasonably and give them some security. pension board meetings? Maybe we didn���t have the long view in mind. Maybe we assumed our property prices would keep going up, but you always have to prepare for famine. There is a saying: ���Whoever does not sow in the spring will beg in the winter.��� Is a tax increase the answer to our promWe���re going through a wintertime where mayises? If not, would you support a bond be we didn���t make preparations in the spring, issue to cover the shortfall (as Fort Lauthinking spring would last and it hasn���t. derdale did last November)? There���s things you can���t anticipate in life or Dorfman: At this time, no. the economy. My hope is the economy will get better for the country and everywhere and we ��������� Dorfman: I have not. Wait, that���s not true. I was actually at the last one very briefly. About two weeks ago. I sat down and listened for about 10 minutes. It was quite arcane.