Some Los Angeles city officials are laying the groundwork for a ballot measure to scale back pension benefits for newly hired city employees, the Los Angeles Times reported this week.
The newspaper cited a “confidential memo” to City Council members from city administrative officer Miguel Santana, predicting that the city’s pension contributions are on pace to grow from $653 million this year to almost $1.3 billion four years from now, or about 25% of the general fund.
Santana said council members should consider a new system in which new workers get smaller benefits and become eligible for them later in their careers.
According to the memo, the council has until Feb. 3 to decide on a ballot measure for the state’s June primary election.