Legal Opinion Threatens L.A.’s Plan To Freeze Retiree Benefits
This month, a law firm retained by the Los Angeles City Fire and Police Pensions board concluded that the city is legally obligated to cover the cost of rising health care premiums for its retirees. This summer, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) and the City Council approved a plan to freeze the amount of health care benefits firefighters and police receive once they retire in an effort to balance the city's budget. The Los Angeles Retired Fire and Police Association is calling for the public safety pensions board to reject the freeze. Meanwhile, Villaraigosa called the legal opinion "ludicrous," adding, "I believe we're absolutely on strong legal ground."
- "Legal Opinion Could Spell Trouble for Plan to Roll Back L.A. Pension Costs" (Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 9/28).