Correct! In BOTH instances, it has to be done by initiative. And it has to be “city council” proof — no mean feat.

In San Diego we’ve had SOME success on competitive bidding (passed as a prop), but only a fraction of the savings we could have achieved. We were much more successful — again, via a proposition — putting all new hires into 401k plans (except for police).

Amen, brother!! Only 2 quibbles. Competitive outsourcing of most services is a “no-brainer”, but will never happen due to the aforementioned “city councils are owned and operated by the city public employee labor unions”. I also think changing defined benefit pensions to something else, would pass and stick if done at the ballot level. Voters know the difference even if they’re ignorant about who’s puppet city candidate X funders.

1. Make sure that as much of the city budget as possible goes to city workers — the goal is 100% of the budget (though admittedly not achievable — but a goal is a goal). Actually counting benefit obligations, the goal is OVER 100% of the city budget — which indeed IS achievable, and indeed is what most CA cities face today.

2. Demand more and more city tax increases to pay for the largesse. More and more CA cities are “reluctantly” choosing that option.

Oakland’s AVERAGE full-time city worker makes in excess of $112,000 in salary and overtime — not counting the opulent benefits. And they are on strike??
https://blog.transparentcalifornia.com/2017/12/08/average-striking-oakland-workers-pay-was-nearly-100000-last-year-data-shows/

Reforming guaranteed (“defined benefit”) pensions is a Gordian Knot that is near impossible to permanently undue. Even if reforms are somehow implemented, the unions will work 24/7 to undo the reforms through the courts, or more frequently by electing their sycophants to city councils, school boards, etc.

The closest thing to a magic bullet would be to contract out every possible government service via a competitive bidding process. Presto! No further unfunded pension liabilities (though the present shortfalls would still constitute a huge problem). Stop the bleeding.

With private firms, the work can be done for less cost and more accountability. You can terminate or contractually fine a company for unsatisfactory work — good luck firing even one government employee — let alone an entire department.

And these firms are seldom unionized — eliminated the most active special interest group in local politics. That alone would be worth the change. Gut the government labor unions.