Voters May Decide On Pension Reform

Sacramento, CA — A group is planning to place a ballot measure on the 2016 election that could help reduce the costs related to government pensions.

Led by former San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed, the group plans to formally begin its campaign in May, but has been working behind the scenes for several months. The formal plan has not been released, but Reed told news reporters this week that it would give cities and counties the authority to renegotiate contracts, and bring down pension costs. The group is working with legal advisers in hopes of ensuring that the proposal would hold up in court, if a legal threat is mounted.

To be placed on the ballot, a statewide measure would need to receive 585,000 signatures from registered voters, which equates to 8% of those that voted during the last gubernatorial election.