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Gee, if Ms. Travis is right about the numbers, she is right, they do not add up. But the real question taxpayers should have, is why the President of the Council is apparently mesmerized by a calculation and an obvious oversight, which it is, and apparently lose sight (possibly intentionally) of the significant liability that the taxpayers in this city are facing.

What was interesting about Mr. Cushman's presentation was the inequities that he pointed out regarding who gets a cola, and who does not. Each pension plan is handled differently, one employee stays whole and another does not. Who pays for health care and who does not. Current employees pay and retirees do not. His chart that showed that currently only 3 cents of each taxpayer dollar goes to city operations (roads, supplies etc.), all the rest going to current and retired employee compensation was an eye opener.

Now, whether Mr. Marciano can offer anything different to the conversation will be interesting; but, he is NOT an actuary. The numbers he uses will be the same as Mr. Cushmans'. A dialogue with the school department would also be positive. However, if people in leadership really dwell on $620.1 million vs.$ 613.7 million we are not going to get anywhere.