Questions Raised Over Proposition’s Effects on Teachers’ Health Costs
Supporters and critics of San Francisco's Proposition B are sparring over whether the ballot measure would increase health care costs for city teachers, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Supporters of Proposition B
San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi wrote Proposition B, which would raise city employees' contributions to their pension and health care benefits.
Teachers would not be affected by the pension changes because they are not part of the state's retirement system. However, teachers are part of the city's health care system, even though they are not employees of San Francisco.
Adachi acknowledged that Proposition B would raise health care costs for about 1,000 school district workers who are members of the Service Employees International Union. However, he said teachers are not included in that group.
Critics of Proposition B
After reviewing the measure, attorneys with the California Federation of Teachers and the United Educators of San Francisco said they determined that Proposition B would affect teachers.
Dennis Kelly, president of UESF, said Adachi has not disseminated accurate information about the ballot measure.
Ken Tray, political director of UESF, said, "People can't even agree on what's in [Proposition B], so how can we ask voters?" (Knight, San Francisco Chronicle, 10/19).
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