75% of the City’s costs are for salaries and benefits.
Exactly, see #5.
That is what should finally convince voters everywhere that we need massive, drastic change. Basically, the government cannot provide the services we pay taxes for because the money is going to payroll and pensions for people who are supposed to provide them. When they complain there is no money to provide the services they are right... they took it all home in salary and benefits.
Atlas will shrug. The private sector producers but especially the private sector employees who do substantially the same or even more difficult and demanding work than public sector employees but can't earn anywhere near the same salary and benefits will revolt. They are being asked to pay employees who can't provide the services their taxes are meant to pay for! It's a raw deal, a bad bargain, and it can't last much longer.
60-80% is typical across municipal governments. Keep in mind that this is a reinforcing loop. One governmental body, be it the village/town/city or the park district, library or any taxing body, will look at a survey of other public bodies to determine the proper perks and salaries.
They do this without reference to the community or the private market. Thus we end up where we are today.
It’s the liberal echo chamber that is the most dangerous thing about them. They talk about rights and free speech and thought, but in practice they’re closer to Al Qaeda than Tom Jefferson.