Here is a review of four (4) areas that can spruce things up economically for the Oneida People
“We Can Do This”
By Vince DelaRosa
Green Bay, WI - In this article I will preview four areas I think we need to consider working on to spur long-term economic vitality for the tribe and our people. If we do these things, it will give all of us a living advantage! Meaning these economic pathways can help enhance all of our lives.
I will acknowledge, my proposals are an expansion in the level of financial services that we offer to all of our tribal members. Similarly, I feel this is important because all of us contribute to the millions of federal dollars we receive each year as a tribe. Likewise, many tribal member's are hurting financially and they need a helping hand from their tribe, now it is the tribe's time to extend its helping hand out to the Oneida people.
"It is worth noting, when our tribe has it's hand extended to the federal government requesting federal money, which we receive each year, we count all of us, likewise, "We all count!" Responsible governments look for opportunities to make life better for their people. My suggestions benefit everyone and that should be our goal, to benefit everyone, employees and non-employees alike. This programming offers and extended hand at a most critical time!"
The truth is, we need to re-visit many of these issues in the future anyway, so getting the jump-start right now is a smart idea. Future planning is going to be the key. I will preview these four areas below with some general suggestions. Of course the GTC can do as they wish, these are only recommendations:
I will acknowledge, my proposals are an expansion in the level of financial services that we offer to all of our tribal members. Similarly, I feel this is important because all of us contribute to the millions of federal dollars we receive each year as a tribe. Likewise, many tribal member's are hurting financially and they need a helping hand from their tribe, now it is the tribe's time to extend its helping hand out to the Oneida people.
"It is worth noting, when our tribe has it's hand extended to the federal government requesting federal money, which we receive each year, we count all of us, likewise, "We all count!" Responsible governments look for opportunities to make life better for their people. My suggestions benefit everyone and that should be our goal, to benefit everyone, employees and non-employees alike. This programming offers and extended hand at a most critical time!"
The truth is, we need to re-visit many of these issues in the future anyway, so getting the jump-start right now is a smart idea. Future planning is going to be the key. I will preview these four areas below with some general suggestions. Of course the GTC can do as they wish, these are only recommendations:
1.) Wages/Retirement Plans,
2.) An Oneida Economic Stimulus Plan,
3.) A Viable Long Term Per-Capita Plan, and
“Your own private pension!”
4.) More Home / Apartment Construction.
Before we begin our review, I will also point out here, I do not blame the Treasurer Tina Danforth for any of our fiscal woes, she has tried to bring some level of fiscal sanity. If you look at the letter which she authored in the last budget packet, at least she was honest and forward about the projected deficits. This is simply something that we'll all have to deal with. These are matters which did not happen overnight, and certainly the economy has not been our friend.
1.) Wages/Retirement Plans-
WAGE ISSUE -
On the wage issue, I think reasonableness needs to prevail. Yes, management can make money, but so can the people, the employees. We have to strike a balance here.
Is it reasonable to have people making 90K or more in a small governmental pay system? Maybe it is, I am sure that perhaps market rates are listed at some of the higher levels, but we need to look at that. This can only be discovered with full disclosure around the Valiant project. Let’s look at it, let’s figure this out, and let’s move on.
Is it reasonable to have people making 90K or more in a small governmental pay system? Maybe it is, I am sure that perhaps market rates are listed at some of the higher levels, but we need to look at that. This can only be discovered with full disclosure around the Valiant project. Let’s look at it, let’s figure this out, and let’s move on.
The tribal wage structure may need to be re-calibrated and possibly fine-tuned to serve our needs today. I cannot speak authoritatively on the subject until the details involving the Valiant wage project are released.
On the wage issues, I tried to ensure that some of the things that have happened, such as an ill-advised 401K moratorium, no cost of living adjustments, no wage increase protections, bonuses being taken away and reductions in vacation and holiday pay, these occurrences never should have happened. These all should be very highly protected policy areas. These issues need to be revisited. The employees must have a say in these matters, these reductions cannot just be imposed on the employees, it's not fair.
Here is what I tried to do, when I was in office, to make sure these types of things would never happen to employees. On June 11th of 2008, I submitted a memo to the Oneida Business Committee and asked them to intervene on the wage issue. This wage work was known as the Valiant project. Valiant sailed by at a fast rate of speed and there was no oversight.
When work like Valiant is being done, oversight is required. There are rules and policies that needed to be in place, and questions that needed to be answered before the current wage system got to where it is today, but no one cared to do the right thing. I would encourage all of you to go and listen to the tape from that meeting! The meeting date was June 11, 2008 when I submitted my memo. I received very little support to protect your wage interest or to intervene on the Valiant wage policy issues, to ensure for example, that the employees would have structured cost of living adjustments (COLA), wage protections, and a safety valve for wage increases. I got very little support to ensure that reductions in employee benefits would be protected by law. That is the most critical thing here, protecting employee wage rights.
This whole situation was preventable; this is a sad episode in our history. Today there is no leadership on this issue; there are no protections; there are no COLA’s and there is no wage increase safety valve, nothing.
Here is an interesting footnote, in the last budget meeting, the Treasurer, Tina Danforth and Councilman, Ed Delgado both supported pay raises for the employees. That was a positive. Maybe we can build off of this type of support from atleast these two sitting Oneida Business Committee member's.
Here is an interesting footnote, in the last budget meeting, the Treasurer, Tina Danforth and Councilman, Ed Delgado both supported pay raises for the employees. That was a positive. Maybe we can build off of this type of support from atleast these two sitting Oneida Business Committee member's.
RETIREMENT PLANS -
Regarding retirement plans, I was thinking about some previous work I had engaged in while serving on the Oneida Business Committee (OBC) several years ago.
While previously serving on the OBC, I served on the State of Wisconsin’s Joint Tribal State Relations Committee. While on that committee I was working on an issue regarding tribal police officer’s in the State of Wisconsin.
The issue at the time was that tribal police officer’s could not enjoy the same pension benefits that other agency officer’s enjoyed.
*Here is a closer look at the actual state law I worked on, to advance retirement rights on behalf of law enforcement officers:
*Here is testimony and a letter I delivered on the law above:
But the work above got me thinking about our other employees. At the time we couldn’t go there and today may also be bad timing, but I have a very different perspective on these matters then most.
One thing none of us care to think about is old age. But we all must confront this issue sooner or later. I fundamentally view the retirement age in America, in general, as being absurd. Many people are being pushed to the last spectrum of their life before they can retire. Amazingly some in Congress want to push the age back even further. Some are calling for 70 to be the retirement age. Not sure where that will go, but 70 is way too long.
This idea that people should work, maybe their entire life is outrageous to me. Working from 18 to 70 is too much. I believe people need to be given the option to retire earlier and live a more productive retirement life. Delaying a retirement past the age of 65 is not acceptable, unless an employee desires to work until the end with no downtime for relaxing. My perspective hinges around the idea that people’s average life expectancy is not too far past this age of 65 or 70.
It’s my hope that maybe one day, we (Oneida) can advance some discussions in the future to see if we can lay the ground work so people can retire sooner. Utilizing our best years, health wise, for the enjoyment of our retirement years, seems like a smart thing to do.
Some say that pensions are dead, and Social Security (SS) and a 401K will have to do. Well I think we need to discuss this, because my opinion differs here again. I believe that any discussion around this matter will need to include talk about a Three-Legged Retirement Stool philosophy.
I am a strong advocate that retirements in this country, and maybe in Oneida, can be supported three or four ways. Here is what I support:
· A robust 401k,
· A healthy pension plan, if we can get the finances tightly configured around these matters,
· A supplement from the federal SS offerings, and if we can;
· I would also add in a life insurance plan, which we do have on the table, with the OLIP plan. Maybe that can be looked at to re-configure its original intent to serve two purposes, i.e., retirement augmentation and death benefits.
Today most people and some companies perceive a 401K as the answer. Then they think you can cap that off with a SS plan and you’re set. This is not a proper retirement package. Things such as some personal savings and a little life insurance plan may sweeten the deal, but maybe an employer can do more in the future. Maybe we can.
401K’s were originally designed as an avenue to get additional compensation to upper level management folks. As such, it was thought as simply one of many points of compensation package, but one that took special consideration about immediate taxation. From those meager beginnings, 401K’s have sometimes become the only retirement plan for the majority of workers.
As a singular retirement tool, 401K’s will always be a little weak. Most people fund their 401K’s with mutual funds. The mutual funds offered within some corporate plans are both limited and sometimes have high expenses.
Maybe one day we can take up this discussion as a tribe and see what we can do. Setting off into our sunset years with a three or four pronged retirement approach will help us all retire with a little more piece of mind.
2.) An Oneida Economic Stimulus Plan-
Please see an article I did on that here: TOUCH HERE.
3.) A Viable Long Term Per-Capita Plan-
As some of you may know, next year the OBC has to bring forward a new per-capita plan for GTC consideration. Several years ago I offered a variable annuity plan. The plan admittedly needs modifications and I am working to craft a new plan that I can submit as a suggested model. My idea was that a tribal per-capita plan can function much like “Your own private pension.” Just imagine if we can get this right and the wage issue above right, maybe we can all enjoy two pensions during our retirement years, how nice would that be?
Under the plan I am proposing now, the following general elements could be at play. The numbers and funding will need to be worked out, but this is possible:
A. The plan would be listed individually on the balance sheets of the tribal members; it would enhance the financial wealth and economic standing of each tribal member because we would set up accounts in all of your names. This is your money, you own it.
B. Payments in the amount of $1,400.00 a year will be made until the age of 55 years is reached.
C. Payments of $10,000.00 a year for life. Payments for the remainder of your life will be made after the age of 56 years is achieved. If you pass away, the amount you are owed in that given year will be paid out to your beneficiary.
Maybe we can get our heads around a new plan next year that may utilize some of these characteristics. My plan also suggest getting enough funding housed in the plan, upfront, so we never have to worry about any future funding obligations. The plan would literally be on auto-pilot; minus a major stock market crash.
I do have a copy of my last plan, its four pages long and too lengthy to publish here. Anyone that would like to view that plan can e-mail me and I’ll send you a copy. Here is my e-mail address: Oneida2011@yahoo.com
4.) More Home / Apartment Construction-
4.) More Home / Apartment Construction-
To me a new home is an economic tool for our people. Whether it’s a house or an apartment, a new home can change lives. If we can structure low mortgage and rental payments, this can help our people have more money in their pockets and that’s a good thing.
Besides providing much needed shelter, sometimes, just this one act can elevate a person or a family to a whole new level. From credits standards, to equity and economic security, this can be a game changer for many Oneida families.
Besides providing much needed shelter, sometimes, just this one act can elevate a person or a family to a whole new level. From credits standards, to equity and economic security, this can be a game changer for many Oneida families.
I am in the process of bringing forward a petition to the Oneida General Tribal Council to discuss and act on housing issues for the Oneida people. Housing on the Oneida Reservation is very limited. The truth is, on most reservations, the tribal housing authorities simply cannot meet demand. Demand is always outstripping the available resources. This has been going on for some 30 years here in Oneida. We simply do not have enough federal dollars coming to the table and we have none of our own dollars being allocated towards this problem, we need a serious policy shift here.
Today, many tribal members are falling through the cracks. There are a lot of tribal members and families living 3 families deep in 1 house, this is unacceptable.
No longer is it acceptable to expect tribal members to pay upwards of 20% or more of their monthly income on mortgage payments. Also of major concern are tribal members who have to pay very high rental payments for small apartments. Many times these rental payments eclipse 30% of the tribal member’s actual monthly income source.
We literally have an emergency on our hands from two perspectives. First, we have a lot of people in serious need of housing assistance and this has been a constant issue here for over 30 years! Secondly, we are becoming a minority on our own reservation. Hobart, Depere, Green Bay, Seymour and the Town of Oneida are building up all around us and we’re not doing enough.
The petition will be ready for circulation later this year. I will also note, this project will attempt to address issues that also relate to pending foreclosure issues and housing finance matters which may be impacting tribal members.
With these kinds of bold moves and sweeping approaches, we can enhance the lives of our people. In the next few years, I hope we can tackle these issues so we can forge a bold new future for all of us!
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