Dan Gilmartin MML Talking about OPEB and Pensions in Los Angeles at NLC City Summit

Dan Gilmartin of the Michigan Municipal League will be speaking next week at the National League of Cities City Summit in Los Angeles regarding health care and pension issues. Other Post Employment Benefit (OPEB) reform has been a vital issue for the SaveMICity initiative. OPEB costs have hampered many Michigan communities’ ability to provide the level of services their residents seek and comprehensive reform to the system is needed.

Gilmartin, CEO and executive director of the League, is part of a group of speakers for a session titled, What Cities Can Do When States Push Down Higher Healthcare and Pension Costs. The session is happening Friday, Nov. 9 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Here’s a description of the session featuring Gilmartin: Pensions play a critical role in the ability of local governments to attract and retain talent. The costs associated with this employee benefit, however, can be substantial. Looking at the total employee compensation package is important for cities, especially when the state pushes down higher healthcare and pension costs. Learn the makeup of the compensation package, discover what levers cities can pull to make a more attractive package and hear how city leaders are creating packages that appeal to the new generation of workers such as student loan repayment.

Other session speakers are Joe Nation, professor at Stanford Public Policy Program; Natalie Cohen, President of National Municipal Research, Inc.; Alexandria Smith, Chief Human Resources Officer, Memphis, Tenn.; and Kevin Wilk, council member in Walnut Creek, Calif.

The NLC’s annual City Summit is the only opportunity for all local officials—elected and staff—to learn about the issues affecting local governments and expand their professional network. The conference provides education for leadership development, meaningful discussions on common local-level problems and new best practices to address the trends affecting cities. Exclusive to NLC’s fall conference, city leaders will get a chance to see how others successfully govern during mobile workshops around the host city, showcasing real-world solutions to issues facing local government.