State Department of Administration Director Mike Gwartney was questioned by lawmakers this morning about his proposal to dip into the state’s budget stabilization fund for $35 million next year to offset unfunded liability for state retiree health benefits - if his legislation doesn’t pass to kick retirees off those benefits if they’re eligible for Medicare. “From my understanding, we’re not required to pay the full amount, but kind of pay as we go,” Rep. Darrell Bolz, House Appropriations vice-chair, told Gwartney, asking why he’d propose such a big payment in such tight economic times. Gwartney responded, “It’s a little bit like having a credit card and you only pay the minimum. Is there any requirement we fund it? No, but it would be prudent to do so. … The piper has to be paid someday.”
Betsy Z. Russell covers Idaho news from The Spokesman-Review's bureau in Boise.
Named best state-based political blog in Idaho for 2013 by The Fix
999 W. Riverside, Spokane, WA 99201
P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210
Main switchboard: (509) 459-5000 • (800) 338-8801
Newsroom: (509) 459-5400 • (800) 789-0029
Customer service: (800) 338-8801
© Copyright 2013, The Spokesman-Review
Terms of use • Privacy policy • Copyright policy
Spokane7
64°
Get blog updates by email
Please keep it civil. Don't post comments that are obscene, defamatory, threatening, off-topic, an infringement of copyright or an invasion of privacy. Read our forum standards and community guidelines.
You must be logged in to post comments. Please log in here or click the comment box below for options.
comments powered by Disqus« Back to Eye On Boise