Every time you drive over a pothole, hear about crowded classrooms, wait for the snowplow, worry about fire stations closing or not enough cops on the street, you might wonder: where's my tax money going anyway?
We found you may be paying part of your tax bill, not for those all-important services, but to pay employees for not being sick!
Michael Widmer, Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation”I doubt that the taxpayers know about this.”
Our check of city and town halls — 70 of them –proves it all depends on where you live. But in town after town, employee contracts let workers get paid for some of their unused sick days.
And it all adds up, just last year, to millions and millions of dollars.
Michael Widmer, Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation”This is an abuse of a legitimate benefit!”
In some places, like Cambridge, the cash kicks in if you retire.
In other places, like Lynn, workers who don't miss a day, like Personnel Director Joe Driscoll, can get paid an extra weeks salary each year.
Joe Driscoll, City of Lynn Personnel Director”It is an incentive knowing that if you come to work, that at the end of the year, you do have an incentive to buy back up to five days.”
Clerks. Police. Fire. Restaurant inspectors. Last year, Lynn paid out more than $ 1.2 million.
Hank Phillippi Ryan, 7NEWS Investigative Reporter”That seems like a lot of money altogether. What do you say?”
Joe Driscoll, City of Lynn Personnel Director”I say that its in the collective bargaining agreement, and as the personnel director, I am here to uphold the collective bargaining agreement.”
Beverly paid out more than $83,000 last year, Weston paid out more than $100,000, Arlington $346,000 and Boston paid $3,900,000. Some taxpayers were surprised.
Taxpayer”I guess its kind of pointless to pay somebody twice.”
But others say wait a minute! It's not a waste.
Taxpayer”I think it can be a good incentive.”
It's a way to get high-end employees to accept the low-end salary of a public servant, working nights and weekends, being on call and even being in danger.
Aldo Petronio, Brockton Treasurer”I think its a great plan.”
Brockton paid almost $175,000. That's a years salary for three new teachers and a new police officer.
But officials there say the amount paid out changes every year. And they calculate that it costs more to replace people and pay overtime than buy out sick days.
Aldo Petronio, Brockton Treasurer”As a manager, when my people are out sick, and the office is short staffed, it's harder to get work done.”
But in some towns, like here Acton, use your sick days them or lose them.
Don Johnson, Acton Town Manager”We've explored that in the past. Its a very expensive program.”
Some towns are phasing out their paybacks. In Wrentham, the retiring fire chief and this retiring police chief, Joseph Collamati, is getting $11,000.
Hank Phillippi Ryan, 7NEWS Investigative Reporter”If someone said, 'Huh, he's getting $11,000 for not being sick,' what would you say?”
Chief Joe Collamati, Wrentham Police”I don't think that's a lot of money, and if it wasn't there, it wouldn't be there, but that wouldn't change my mind to serve the public as a police officer for 38 years.”
But Wrentham officials told us that for new employees, sick time buy backs ended years ago.
Is it a fair reward for faithful workers or a massive hit on the towns budget? You probably wont get to weigh in on that.
Sick pay decisions are often made at the union bargaining table and behind closed doors.
But what's decided that they have to tell you. Check with your local officials to find out if your town or city workers can cash in their sick days, and how much they can get for them.
(Copyright 2007 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)