COMMENTARY
MARK SCHUMANN
When the City Council begins holding budget workshops Monday, July 8 at 9 a.m., among the first line items to receive scrutiny may be $20,451 in health insurance benefits for Mayor Craig Fletcher and Councilwoman Pilar Turner, up by $2,107 from the current year. Fletcher and Turner are the only two Council members taking advantage of the generous health insurance benefit not available to the city’s other part-time employees.
Under what have been described as “severe” cutbacks for the 2013/2014 fiscal year, the city plans to layoff some 34 employees, reducing lifeguard protection and recreation programs. The city also plans shut down and outsource the work of the Police Department’s dispatch unit. Many fear the move will lead to slower response times, with little if any savings to the budget.
Despite such cutbacks, and despite Fletcher’s and Turner’s insistance the city should be able to drastically cut expenses, both Council members seem content to let taxpayers continue to pick up a large portion of the cost of their health insurance.
Indian River Guardian 
If Mayor Fletcher or Councilwoman Turner had any real concern for the COVB budget, they would decline health care coverage for their part-time jobs.
I second that, Ms Lavins!