Concerns about the city of Warwick’s financial status were front and center during a public hearing last night.
A report released in September indicates the city has over $850 million in pension and health care liabilities as of last year. City Council President Steve Merolla thinks the first step to correcting the problem is determining whether those numbers are accurate.
“If you don’t know the severity or the scope of the position that we’re in, it’s hard to convince people to take on meaningful changes that need to be made for everyone,” Merolla said.
Warwick resident Roger Durand said something has to give.
“Who is going to have the intestinal fortitude on this council to have a realistic discussion with the city employees?” asked Durand. “How are we going to pay them private industry wages and public employee benefits? We can’t do it anymore.”
Warwick resident Rob Cote said local leaders need to hold themselves accountable for the city’s unfunded liabilities.
“When is somebody on this council or in the Mayor’s administration going to stand up and be a leader?” asked Cote. “When is that person going to say we need to rescind lifetime health care (for city employees) because it doesn’t work and it’s breaking the bank of the residents of Warwick?”
Council President Merolla says all options are on the table when it comes to restructuring the city’s pension and health care plans.
Warwick Mayor Joseph Solomon has said he doesn’t believe the city is in a financial crisis, but he does admit that employee benefit packages need to be re-examined going forward.
