The Moraga-Orinda Fire District announced March 7 that its property tax revenue projection for fiscal year 2014-15 increased 5.9 percent over fiscal year 2013-14. As a result the district's revenue is projected to increase more than $500,000 over what was budgeted. The revised figure was provided to the district by the Contra Costa County tax assessor's office.
The district also announced that the rate of increase of its contribution to the Contra Costa County Employees' Retirement Association has dropped dramatically beyond fiscal year 2014-15. Since 2012, the district has absorbed double-digit annual increases in its retirement contribution rate; starting in 2015-16, the rate increases 0.42 percent, with a decrease of at least 2.64 percent in each of the succeeding four years. The retirement contribution payment is the district's largest expense item after wages and salaries.
The announcements were made the same day that the district said it will enter into mediation with its firefighters' union. "Everything we do is connected," said board president John Wyro. "Whether we had heard this news or not, though, we were going to proceed with mediation." Fire chief Stephen Healy noted, "It certainly takes some pressure off both sides." The mediation process is expected to commence in late April.
The district also announced that the rate of increase of its contribution to the Contra Costa County Employees' Retirement Association has dropped dramatically beyond fiscal year 2014-15. Since 2012, the district has absorbed double-digit annual increases in its retirement contribution rate; starting in 2015-16, the rate increases 0.42 percent, with a decrease of at least 2.64 percent in each of the succeeding four years. The retirement contribution payment is the district's largest expense item after wages and salaries.
The announcements were made the same day that the district said it will enter into mediation with its firefighters' union. "Everything we do is connected," said board president John Wyro. "Whether we had heard this news or not, though, we were going to proceed with mediation." Fire chief Stephen Healy noted, "It certainly takes some pressure off both sides." The mediation process is expected to commence in late April.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA