HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 1078
A Resolution %t /o 7?
I?A
Opposing Proposed Federal Legislation
Requiring City Participation in
Medicare and Social Security
WHEREAS, at the present time, the Congressional revenue committees,
the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee, are
considering a reconciliation resolution which proposes two changes in the
Social Security Regulations, and
WHEREAS, this resolution would require that Medicare coverage be
extended to all present State and Municipal employees and requires the City
to match the amount paid by the employees, and further, proposes that after
January 1, 1986, all newly hired state and local employees be required to
participate in the Social Security Program and requires the City to match the
amount paid by employees, and
WHEREAS, since inception of the Social Security Program,
participation has been on a voluntary basis granted by Congress, and the City
of Fort Worth previously exercised the option not to participate through an
f election of the employees, and
WHEREAS, adoption of this resolution would cost the City additional
funds to maintain and administer the current health insurance system and also
collect for the Medicare Program, and
WHEREAS, adoption of this resolution would cost the City additional
funds to maintain and administer two separate retirement systems the
current one for present employees and the Social Security Program for newly
hired employees, and
WHEREAS, during the next fiscal year, the Medicare tax would cost
the City an additional $1,512,014 and the Social Security tax for newly hired
employees would cost the City approximately $480,650, and
WHEREAS, these proposed taxes represent additional taxes to the
employees of the City of Fort Worth for health and retirement benefits
already provided, thereby reducing take home compensation by a substantial
amount, and
WHEREAS, both of these changes represent added costs which are not
currently paid by the citizens of Fort Worth and would have to be passed on
to them indirectly through a tax increase or some other means,
•
CITY OF FORT FORTH
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FORT WORTH, TEXAS that the City hereby urges the entire Congressional
delegation, as well as the Chairmen and committee members of the Senate
Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee, to disregard this
proposal, or any version thereof, as a viable means of financing the deficits
of the Social Security Fund because it will be detrimental to the
municipalities of the United States, represents an additional tax to the
citizens and employees of the City of Fort Worth for a service which is
already provided and funded by taxes, and represents an infringement on local
autonomy.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Secretary forward copies
of this resolution to the President of the United States and to the
appropriate members of the United States Senate and the House of
Representatives.
ADOPTED this
day of
1985.
APPROVED BY
CITY COUNCIL
AUG 20 1985
City 5eoietaxy of the
City of Fox$ W
CITY OF FORT WORTS