Police Chief Would Like All Sworn Personnel Included in Collective Bargaining Reforms

Dane County Judge Maryann Sumi’s and its collective bargaining components have not only made it difficult for and , but it has had a trickle-down effect on departments within municipalities as well.

In Greenfield, Sumi’s decision, probable future court hearings and the continued push by some to get all police and fire personnel included in the bill have made it difficult for and his department to prepare for 2012, and it also has Springob and others .

“The sooner this matter is determined, to flesh out the loss of state shared revenue, etc., the better it will be for those responsible for crafting the 2012 and successor budgets for local government,” Springob said. “Contrary to popular belief, the truth of the matter is that Act 10 does not provide local governments with all the tools that are necessary to balance their budgets and yet provide reasonable, adequate resources to maintain local services.”

Springob is particularly focused on collective bargaining reforms that exclude union police and fire personnel from contributing more to their pensions and health insurance coverage. All other public workers, including non-represented police and fire personnel, would be required to contribute 5.8 percent toward their pension and 12 percent toward their health care premiums under Act 10.

Springob declined to comment on the rightness or wrongness of Act 10, but he is concerned about the pay inequity that will follow should supervisory and command personnel be forced to contribute while those they supervise do not.

Two of the professional organizations Springob belongs to – Wisconsin Chiefs of Police and Wisconsin Police Executive Group – have proposed a change in Act 10 asking for all sworn law enforcement officers, regardless of rank or union affiliation, to be affected equally.

“I believe this is critical for the proper functioning of all Wisconsin law enforcement and fire departments,” Springob said.