I was very nicely reminded that Ray Scott was born near what is now
known as Silva Road. The property on Shaffer Road that Ray’s father
homesteaded is still partially owned by a member of the Scott family.
The Scott’s in Hornitos were Scotts alright but not related. Now
that poses a puzzle because I have a picture of two children from
Hornitos which are identified by locals as the Scott brothers. And
well they might as they could be Scotts but not Ray Scott. Live and
learn.
OUTLOOK FOR THE FUTURE
Mariposa County, as with all counties in California are beginning to understand that they may have gone over the top in the structuring of retirement benefits for employees. How did this impossible debt occur?
What does it mean if this is not corrected? How about the long term medical benefits?
Mariposa County, and all counties in California got into the mess of an impossible debt based on the requirements posed by the contracts with employee groups and PERS, the state retirement system.
Perhaps the most difficult is the medical benefits which are offered
to those who retire before the age of 65. Many years ago, maybe as
much as 30, the Mariposa County Board of Supervisors set up a system
in which the county would be responsible for health care for
retiree’s who served five years or more and yet had not reached the
age of retirement, which at that time was 65. Believe it or not this
was set up for elected officials who often left office after serving
two terms (8 years) or at least resigned after 5 years, well before
the normal retirement age of 65. At 65 retirees could be eligible
for Medicare. The cost to the county for those who had not yet
reached 65 was small, and since even long term employees, either
elected or appointed, received low retirement benefits, the extra
cost of health care was more than they could afford. I remember one
more than 30 year employee who’s health had forced her to retire
early, appealing to the Board because she needed health care help.
The amount needed was $200.00 per month. Very inexpensive by today’s
standards.
As the years went on, Mariposa County employees became represented
by a couple of unions which began the process of raising the basic
salaries and benefits. While the cost of health care for retired
employees under 65 began to rise, the cost of the PERS system
remained quite low. It was only when there was a significant down
turn in the stock market that the PERS system became threatened.
Particularly when a significant part of the funds were invested in
Silicon Valley stocks. When those issues began failing, the reserves
that the PERS system had, begun to erode significantly. In order to
survive, more money had to come to the system from the counties and
employees At the same time the unions representing the various
employee units put pressure on the counties, as well as the state, to
make significant changes in the retirement system. Not only were
wages increased but the date of retirement changed. Lead by the
state employees, all county workers were given a 50 year retirement
age for law enforcement, fire, prison guards, and others considered
to be in high stress and high risk jobs. For the rest of employees
the retirement age was lowered to 55.
Next the method of calculating the retirement benefit base was
changed to the highest two years for most employees, but in Mariposa
County, it was changed to highest one year. This offered the
opportunity for long term employees and elected officials to be given
large pay increases their last year of service for purpose of
calculating their retirement. Then the employee and the counties
contributions increased and because they were retiring before the
Medicare age of 65, the county was obligated to give them the full
medical benefit for their last most expensive years before Medicare
took over. It was only in the last year that the Board of
Supervisors was able to negotiate a change which required the
employee to work 10 years before they became eligible for the
Medical Benefit. That didn’t change the fact that for some the
county would still be paying for their health benefits for up to 15
years before Medicare. Consider the fact that the age of
qualification for Medicare may have to be increased to above 65 years.
A few weeks ago a new book was published by ex-Senator and
Presidential candidate Bill Bradley who looked at America and its
future. In the desperate need to retain power our political parties
have failed to address many of the issues which will damage our
status as the strongest country on earth. Social Security and
Medicare are worth making whole because when those of us in the later
years of our lives can not participate in the economic system or live
healthy lives, we become a burden for our children and communities.
I am healthy and can participate in our community of life because the
health care system has corrected the results of aging to such a
wonderful degree. Having such advanced care does cost some but no
way would I be able to enjoy life if I could not have been accorded
the wonders and skills of the modern health care system at a
sustainable cost. Yet we are living in a system that requires
deficit spending. That means that we live and enjoy the benefits of
our society above our ability to pay for the services. Sen. Bradley
suggests that Social Security will have to start as 70 for all
instead of 62 or 65 as now, in order to survive under the present
system.
We are leaving our children a huge debt. On one side we are happy
to commit our people to a debt that we and the future generations can
not pay, and then prevent the kind of development and activities that
can at least make an attempt to generate the economic muscle to pay
for everything we want. Entitlement. That is the theory that just
because we exist as Americans or Californians or residents of
Mariposa County we are entitled to material goods and services that
we can not provide for ourselves. This became very evident during
the Johnson years in the White House and has now permeated our whole
society. I am sure you must recognize that there are many people
working for Mariposa County Government, providing services to the
citizens of the county, who represent social solutions for problems
which have always existed but were left up to our families to deal
with. All of these services cost tax dollars that are at work,
attempting to solve issues which have existed since the beginning of
time. It must be realized that we will never be able to fix all the
human deficiencies with government programs.
But it isn’t just social programs that fall in this category.
Another example of a government function that will never ever pay for
itself. Public Transportation. It is well known that public
transportation fare box revenues seldom cover more than 25% of the
cost of operation. The balance of operating funds is tax supported.
That means that someone made a decision that public transportation
was needed to either provide low cost transportation for everyone,
or, in the case of YARTS, somehow fulfill a stated policy of removing
all of the private automobiles from Yosemite Valley. There is a good
case for a form of public transportation to transport employees to
work, either in Yosemite or in Merced. But the transportation
system, while it is heavily subsidized, does not find that it can
accomplish the demand without further losses or readjustment of its
schedule. In the mean time a genuine need goes by the boards.
There are a few parts of our governmental functions that seem to
work. In spite of the lack of sufficient funds, the road function of
our Public Works Department is doing a very good job. Having a light
winter helps a lot but it is very important that our major county
roads be easily used in order for the economic well being to continue
to improve.
Another problem seems to be in the fire services. Twenty years ago
Mariposa County was served by a number of independent volunteer
departments which were under funded when it came to equipment and
training, but none the less did a great job of protecting our
communities. This was primarily because of the dedication of the
volunteer firemen in each company, the energy put into fund raising
in each community with an occasional contribution from each County
Supervisor from a district fund that could not be called an
appropriation, but none the less was tax dollars. Those were the
years of the $1.00 fire trucks, some of which could not make it out
of the fire house.
We have now come to a period in our history when fire service is no
longer a local service supported by the local communities, but a
necessary entitlement within the county which has to be paid for with
tax dollars appropriated by the Board of Supervisors. The fire
system in the county also has a responsibility for medical aids which
add to the cost as well as the training of volunteer firemen. The
problem this creates, of course, is that when you ask busy young
men or women to spend many hours of volunteer time in this effort that
they decide to not volunteer because other obligations take a higher
priority. This is not a fault of the county or the volunteer system
but a fact of life.
The solution for all of these problems, including recreation and
other county supported services, is to plan ahead to set the goals
that we wish for our community. The difficulty has always been that
while everyone wants great roads, first class fire and medical aid
services, recreation facilities, libraries, and the like, not many
have been willing to pay the bill. Let someone else pay the bill.
Get a grant.
An example would be the turndown of the Gym project by the voters.
Their true feelings came through on that one. Yes, having a large
community center which could seat 1500 patrons for basketball or
volleyball or community meetings and events, would be wonderful but
to have to pony up the bucks to make that happen----no way. Only
once in our history (1957) to my knowledge have the people of
Mariposa County voted themselves a tax increase directly for a public
facility. Even our wonderful historic high school building was
constructed by a WPA grant during the depression after a failed bond
election
We are now reviewing the second draft of an Economic Development
Strategy, which by the way is paid for by a State Block Grant. The
document does not even begin to address Economic Development because
in a free enterprise system no economic development occurs without
job creation---either new jobs stimulated by new investment of better
paying jobs with career tracts that make the community wealthier.
This is the system under which we live, and Mariposa County either
does not understand the system or rejects it. We have citizens, not
many, but committed, sitting waiting for the county to make a planning
mistake so that they can file class action suits which would prevent
the granting of any permits for any economic development. This is
already happening with the rejection of projects, the delay of
projects and/or the imposition of conditions that delay, stop or
simply make impossible any kind of economic growth. Bad news.
So, what does this all have to do with retirement programs? A lot.
We must look at our county as an economic unit which can on one hand
build the wealth of the county in order to have fire departments and
retirements, while on the other hand, have the intelligence and skill
to protect the most prized aspects of our county. This will not be
easy but it is a discussion that must be made because we are heading
for bankruptcy.
Selling bonds to cover old debt is only a part of the answer. Other
issues must be addressed at the same time as a whole to produce a
direction that will serve us well.
We must seek a balance within our financial house. If no growth is
the direction then we must reverse the growths of growth in the
operational and social responsibilities of government in order to
balance the books. This can not continue forever.
Leroy Radanovich
Leroy Radanovich Email:
Leroy Radanovich
To learn much more about Mariposa County along with
historical photos:
A signed copy of "Images of America" - Mariposa County,
By Leroy Radanovich can be purchased at his web site:
Radanovich Galleria & Books
This is a early day photo of the Mariposa Mine in
Mariposa County
that is mentioned in the article to
the left by Mr. Radanovich.
This photo and others can be purchased in various sizes.
All prints are archivally printed on fiber based paper, given a selenium wash which renders the photographs permanent with a
warm tone ready for framing
Radanovich Galleria & Books
Mariposa in 1920
This photo and others can be purchased in various sizes.
All prints are archivally printed on fiber based paper, given a selenium wash which renders the photographs permanent with a
warm tone ready for framing
Radanovich Galleria & Books
Mariposa County Courthouse written by Leroy Radanovich and
Scott Pinkerton is a book about the oldest courthouse in California that is still in use today.
The book is signed by Leroy Radanovich.
To purchase the book:
Radanovich Galleria & Books
Mariposa in 1860
This photo and others can be purchased in various sizes.
All prints are archivally printed on fiber based paper, given a selenium wash which renders the photographs permanent with a
warm tone ready for framing
Radanovich Galleria & Books