Editorial: State Must Adjust Retiree Health Care Costs

A Sacramento Bee editorial states that "health care obligations for retirees represent another fast-growing cost that neither the state nor local governments have adequately prepared for," adding that "the government pays the full cost [for retiree health care obligations] on a pay-as-you-go basis." The Bee continues that these costs increased by "about 18% from last year" and that workers "should be asked to pay more to finance the state's very generous retiree health plans." The editorial offers some suggestions for how California could "reduce its retiree health care liability."

• "State Must Get Handle on Health Care Obligations" (Sacramento Bee, 3/21).