Senate Budget Chairman J.D. Alexander Thursday introduced his plan to cut retirement and salary benefits to save the state money. The plan requires workers in the Florida Retirement System to contribute three percent of their salary to their pension .
Alexander discarded a compromise proposal crafted by the Senate Government Oversight Committee that would have exempted from the salary cuts all workers who make $40,000 or less. Those making between $40,000 and $75,000 would have taken 2 percent salary cuts for their retirement and those making more than $75,000 would have faced 4 percent cuts.
Alexander proposes ending the deferred retirement program known as DROP and raising the retirement age for police, fire, parimedics and other public safety officers. Teachers, First Responders and Union leaders said the Senate is trying to balance the budget on the backs of those who serve. To hear the radio report click on BUDGET CUTS.