I suspect pensions are the lion’s share of the cop cost. Good luck touching those.
The bankruptcy courts have made clear that pensions for public employees are on the table during municipal bankruptcies.
No need to touch the pensions. There is absolutely no reason for a guy who was promised a pension in exchange for work should lose any pensions. Any change to pensions should be made for the guy starting work the following day. In fact, the company who gave a pension should take care of people on pensions before stock holders in my opinion and I have stocks and still want the workers to be taken care of first. Our companies have gone nuts and totally screwing the workers and it must stop. It has been that way since the 80s.