THE FATE OF THE TAX INCREASE RESTS IN THE HANDS OF A COUNCIL PRESIDENT THAT HAS TWO WEEKS REMAINING BEFORE LEAVING CITY COUNCIL. I FEEL THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT HENDRICKS WILL IGNORE THE VETO AND NOT CALL A SPECIAL MEETING BECAUSE HE HAS TO PROTECT HIS SON.
By request.
The non-bargaining units are not contractually protected. The administration provides a recommendation to council for non-bargaining staff wage increases. Each Non-bargaining staff receives a minimum of two raises each year. One for the annual cost of living, typically under 5% and another raise on their anniversary during the year. They all move to the next step. It should be noted that this approximate 3% second increase is not based on any kind of performance or evaluation--it is just for breathing.
Heres where the money is given away.
The bargaining unions such as police and fire traditionally get 3-5 year contracts.
Currently the police are in a contract until 2026. They had a 1 year extension of their previous 3 year contract. The 1 year was implemented so many officers would reach 20 years. Next year you will see approx 15-30 officers retire. The 4 year contract is set at 3% a year raises. With Longevity increases the longer you stay. They get I think 14 paid holidays. Heres a nut kicker. If they work say Christmas they get double time and a half. Or paid 20hrs for 8hrs. If they are off or take off, they get 8hrs for the day as well as 8hrs of holiday pay or 16hr for the day. Every holiday including their birthday is set this way. Clothing and higher education gets compensated. Also officers pensions are calculated by their highest five years or last 30 days. 5 year average divided by the percentage of pension they leave at. Ex. If they average $120,000 over 5 years and leave at a 70% pension they get $84,000 a year pension for life. Always while on the job their medical for a family is like $1500 a year.
If they leave and use their last 30 days, this is a little tricky to calculate but its their last 30 days, with a 10% overtime cap to be added. Shift diff, and longevity also get used. Most leave in November because there is 4 holidays for all the guys. 5 if they were hired in November and 6 if their birthday is in November. Work all the holidays say all 4. Thats 48hrs of overtime added into your calculations. So basically, all the money you make in your last 30 days, say is $12,000. City takes 12months x $12k equals $144,000 times that by .70% or whatever percentage they leave at and get $108,000 pension.
Fire is very similar to police with the exception of higher overtime rates and their minimum staffing requirement that causes the city to "hire" replacement employees when someone calls off or is sick. The city pays a much higher premium for these replacement staff and the Fire Department has figured out how to pad pensions using extra duty.
Let's not forget that the mayor rushed the newest fire 5 year contract two years in advance and publicly claimed it was a good contract for the city. He left out that it is a premium contract for the city firefighters.
This is why the city is broke. Even at 50% pension of $144 is $72k. This padding of the pension is only available to Fire and Police. The NB and SEIU staff have a pension that is properly administered through the state. The city should move away from the city funded pension for fire and police and require the public safety staff to participate in the Pa State administered pension.
My sources tell me some of the recent police officers have left with over $100,000 pensions. And their are several firefighters making over $150,000 a year. Thats insane.
The city cant go on paying these pensions that are close to the police and firefighters regular salary. The way they calculate their pensions needs to change. No other departments calculate the way Allentown does.
Hey Matt funny you can give all your department heads huge raises, and you allow the police and fire to retire with pensions higher than your salary 🤣 🤣
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13 comments:
What?! How are these pensions so high? The city should be required to publish a listing of all pensions amounts currently being paid out to retirees. Not listed as a single amount either, by dept and pension amount.
I took a look at the last pensions approved by the Fire and Police Pensions and they were:
1. 08/19/2025 - Fire Zellin $78,407.06/yr. Publicly available at: https://allentownpa.granicus.com/player/clip/1889?view_id=1&redirect=true
2. 08/19/2025 - Police Kozlowski $101,808.73 annually; Karnish $99,067.83 annually. Publicly available at:
https://allentownpa.legistar.com/Video.aspx?Mode=Granicus&ID1=1880&Mode2=Video
Wake up Allentown! THIS is why they are taking your hard-earned money -- just to cover these inflated pensions and out of control spending.
People need to start showing up to City Council and speaking out about this more than just on a blog that I am sure no one on Council reads or believes. We have to collectively stand up to Tuerk and his overpaid administration. I am worried that once Cece leaves that Daryl will get back on Council. Hopefully Ed will be in the running.
Daryl isn't coming back and neither is Ed. Daryl because he showed his true faces during the last four years. Ed crushed any chances of coming back to Council when he launched a very poor campaign for mayor.
You are 100% correct about Darryl.However, Don't be so quick to say that Ed ran a bad campaign. Numbers don't always tell the full story. Can you name one other mayoral candidate that lost in the primary but yet was still capable of running in the general. As a matter of fact Mayor Tuerk was so concerned that he held a press conference at center square trying to steer voters away from writing his challenger in. Ed has always stood up for the citizens and the city workers. Folks won't be so quick to forget that down the road. Especially once the new Council shows their colors.
I wouldnt take the bet the mayor and city council dont read this blog.
King Matt Tuerk continues to take our hard earned money. Veto, trash increase (not just in his office), and today he announced the real estate transfer tax increase.
Merry Christmas 🎄🎁 from your spend happy Mayor. Tuerk is actually worse than Trump at this point. At least you know Trump is going to stab you in the front. This criminal smiles and stabs us in the back.
I agree. Daryl will seal his political future in Allentown if he doesn’t call a special meeting to override this veto.
Daryl just like the over sized thuggish Vickie were appointed for Palowski thugonomics Corp of Allentown to continue the terrorizing locals into submission!
Daryl protecting his son is nothing new. Ray Ray did the same for his unemployable son. And others before him. These people have no shame yet they pat themselves on the back for "serving the public". The only thing they serve is their own inflated egos.
Ed really did organize a bad campaign littered with missteps and continual open mouth insert foot moments. His campaign flatlined before it ever got started. The best thing for the City and Ed is to for him to stay out of politics and enjoy retirement.
Is thuggish Vickie the same person that talks down to staff, specifically the black and brown skinned employees? I hear that she and Affa are quite close, is that surprising? How does the old adage go? Birds of a feather...
I'm not sure how any of this protects Daryl's son.
It protects Daryl’s son from retaliation from Matt. His father plays nice and leaves the budget vetoed than balding Chris will be ok. If he messes with him then his son’s future doesn’t look so good. But we all know if Mickey Boyer decides she doesn’t want him in the city he will be out. I hope Chris is willing to put out like other employees in the city. Let’s go to Jeremy Warmkessel has been messing around with these contracts for years. Reason why he was always friends with all of them, well with the exception of the one girl of color🤣🤣 he surrounded himself with like minded individuals.. the city will be bankrupt due to police and fire is soon approaching.
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