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The problem with that is it is costing local government more to operate this year than in 2006. If you want 2006 numbers you need to have 2006 gas prices, insurance prices, etc. It's easy to just pick at local government but if you are going to do that tell the whole story. Cost of operating has...

Mrs. Burns, Thank you for the help!!!!!

Sorry about that, the game starts at 11:00am and events last until 6pm. Thank you again.

As a side note I personally want to thank our localcommunity for stepping up the last couple of months with your generosity wehave been able to raise much needed money for Danny and his family. So, fromeveryone of us in the professional fire fighters association THANK YOU SouthWalton!!!!

Everyone, If you do not have any plans for Saturday the South Walton Professional Fire Fighters Association in conjunction with the South Walton Fire District will behosting an event at Helen McCall Park. The even will be called "A Day forDanny". There will be activities for the family and the...

Mr, Jedd, I can give you some answers. As far as the .8999 mills that is voted on by the elected Fire Board. Every year they have the ability to change it up too 1.0mills based on a previous referendum vote held many years ago. The money you are saying Walton County pays to SWFD is...

I want to thank all of you for your support during our annual boot drive on 30a. This year we were only able to collect at two spots but our citizens and visitors came through for us and we were able to collect 5,975 dollar for the MDA and we would like to thank you for all the support.

If it was written in the 80's did someone modify it with the Iraq and Afganistan part?

For those of you who are interested SWPFFA has a new Facebook page. We are trying to keep people informed about local events we put on and even meetings we will be having regarding contract negotiations. Just Seach for South Walton Professional Firefighters while on Facebook. This page is...

What was that link supposed to be for? I only ask becuase we have been using SLERS for a few years now.

The Firefighters have been collecting for MDA for a very long time now. It's our tradition to have a "boot drive". I want to thank the generous citizens of Walton County for always making our collection efforts a success. We make sure that all our collectors are wearing high visibilit vests and...

Since Bob Wells was the only person I know on here that was in attendance at the Pension Board meeting I am hoping he can answer any of your questions. I heard it was a good meeting, but since the 8pm start time is a little late for my family life I had to abstain from attendance. With that Bob...

Diane, Sorry for the delay. I had a computer crash and I was out of town for the last weekend. I have not left the building. I am just pointing out that what you heard was the same thing we were being told at every meeting. It was not until we asked and then researhed the question that we got a...

If you want to see what the PTO chage was go to www.local3516.com and find the tab for contracts. You can see the last three contracts there and you can see the changes to the Leave sysem. under the current contract Article 14 is PTO. Diane, I know the conventional wisdom was that when we...

I read this a few months ago. http://www.hollandsentinel.com/opinions/x13292164/COLUMN-American-workers-got-what-they-deserved

If that is true I hate to see things like this happen. If anyone needs any incentive to stop this, watch an episode of The Tonight Show where they do "Jay Walking". It's things like these budget cuts that are going to lead to more people walking around with out any basic knowledge.

30a, When I got the numbers I was told that they are slightly different from the numbers in the valuation study. The person who gave me the numbers did not know why they are different, but the numbers I have provided as best I can tell deal only with the investment portion of the plan. If we...

Bob H. Jack Abbit negotiated the contract in 2006 where we got the 4% mulitplier and 20% pay raises. He did that I'm guessing because the information that he was provided said that we could do it and we should do it. In that same contract he helped provide better staffing levels. In 2009 we...

I will say that FRS is one of the best funded pension plans in the country. It is solid. The cost to the district would be about the same. I think the last thing I heard was that if you were in FRS high risk your precentage of payroll owed was about 23%. That's pretty close to what the District...

Also, if you have the ages I would love to know how long I'm gonna live.

Mr. Stange sat through the process last time. It usually works with the Chief being the head negotiatior. That was how it was last time. Mark Youngblood was Chief negotiator for our side and Chief Talbert was the head of their side. This time I get the feeling I am dealing more directly with Mr...

Bob H. I have never thought you were anti-union.

As for why we are not in FRS and are in this Chapter 175 plan let me address that with this. Every Homeowner in South Walton pays a 1.85% excise tax on your homeowner insurance. You would pay this regardless of what the local FD retirement plan is. You also pay a similar tax on your car...

Buzz, I am not a numbers guy but did some more research and the return history of the plan is from Oct 2003, To Oct 2004: 10.96% 04-05: 12.32% 05-06: 9.12% 06-07: 15.75 07-08: -17.77% 08-09: 4.99% 09-10 8.35%. I was told that at the halfway point in this year it was at a little over 9%. I...

Bob, I did not see where that was posted. Was that in a different thread? Either way I have some idea of those numbers. Does the return on investments only go back to 2008 in that report? I have been trying to figure out what the rate of return has been for the life of the plan I believe that it...

Buz, I will point out again. The age of 109 is what is being told to me by the fire boards appointee to the pension board. The chairman of the pension board agrees with your assesment and I will say again that number seems to be unbelieveable. As far as the 8% goes, I will ask you this, how...

Zohan, I hope we can keep the level of service the same. That being said, last year during the budget workshops when the reduction in service was discussed not one citizen stood up to speak against the reduction of service. Just to give you some history from 2001-2008 we operated with 3 ALS...

So, what does he do for the next 9 years? Not a whole lot of options in the job market these days. It's like I stated he has earned a pension when he reaches the age of 55, or 50 with a 3% per year penalty. So for "right now" he has nothing for monthly income. I am also pretty sure the lions...

That is not true. The District’s payment into the plan this year was 1.5 million, and next year it will be 1.3 million. The budget shortfall is projected to be 2.6 million and they saved a grand total of 200k letting go two senior people. Even if there were no retirement payments they would...

I understand all of that Bob.When it comes to wether are our organizations always opposed I was relaying a story about the union's relationship with the South Walton community and how I was kind of caught off gaurd when asked that question. In the community(Santa Rosa County) where I live I...

30a shopper, I believe the file is too big to post as it is 4 different spread sheets. If I know who you are you are more than welcome to get a copy from me. Also, SWFD has a copy and it's now a public record. There are somethings on there that would not make sense and would need to be...

Andy A, Sean Hughes has earned a pension with the SWFD. That being said with the way our plan is set up he will not be able to collect his earned benifits untill he reaches the age 55. I believe he can collect early benifits at the age of 50 but would take a penalty. Diane did point out that...

Bob, it is my understanding that a “red herring” is a statement meant as diversion from an article of significance at least that is the way I understand it, but what do I know I’m just a fireman. I think what Diane is saying is that the WCTA cannot fix or try to fix things it does not know...

With all that is going on these days you have no idea how far a simple thanks goes.

How is what Diane posted a red herring? I believe that she means WCTA should have a concern for all possible cost saving proposals. I think you guys do have a concern and I don't think she was trying to draw your attention away from the "man behind the mirror". Bob, I know you had to leave...

What other options do you have? If that is the reason you are posting I am willing to listen.

I agree bob. I am trying to understand the same things. I figured that the layoffs are of public intrest because they affect the budget. I have the hard copy but can't seem to figure out how to turn it into a PDF. I think what I have is an updated copy. It has more numbers, and is what was...

Bob, I have a different copy of those numbers. They are mostly the same but there are some differences. As soon as I can figure out how to get it on here I will post it. I have a scanned copy but for some reason it will not upload my jpeg. As for the question. I have not asked you to ask the...

Also, before I forget at the last meeting the budget shortfall going into next year based on the sheet that we were given was 2.75 million. We are trying to identify all things that are going to drive that number up so we can get a solid number.

Bob, I was surprised about the 109 life span, but that was the number given to me by Mr. Flanagan who sits on the pension board via the Fire Board. This number seems very inflated but the way he explained it we have no option but to use this number. Also, as far as the proposal you were only...

Bob, I'm not sure what I can and can't legaly post. If it is a public record you can easily get a copy probably via E-mail. Your assesment is pretty much spot on though with the numbers. If you want to know what I think you'll have to wait for me to get direction from my bosses (members). I have...

Thanks to all, I think this will also help with our chairity fundraising info. When I find out about it I'll pass it on through here. This is something we try to do to give back to those in need. Thank you again for your support.

Bob, the only public meeting that has occurred since the reorganization, was the last commissioners meeting. At that meeting the question was answered with the only answer that they could give which had to do with pending legal advice. I believe this was addressed in the local news out this last...

Can you tell me how collective bargining is such a waste of taxpayer money? I would hate for me to make a salary I could not justify. That is all we do in that process. We go in there and make sure we can afford our wages, ask for the JUSTIFIABLE wages we get, and then go back and do our jobs...

Just Saying Hello, I am the President of the South Walton Professional Firefighters Association. If anyone has any questions feel free to ask me here on in a message and I will gladly try to answer. I look forward to continued service to the South Walton community.

I do have a question. Bob Hudson, I was wondering if anyone was going to be at the next Fire Board meeting on June 6th. My executive board will not be able to make it due to a conference. I was wondering if someone would stand up and re-ask the question I had for the board at the last meeting...

Recently there have been many questions about the South Walton Fire District Retirement system and how any changes would save money. Bob Hudson has done a good job of explaining the stop/restart portion of how these changes would work, but there is another factor to this which would be reducing...