[quote=LarryTheRenter]It is ridiculous…thats why we are in this finacial mess…why should they have a guarenteed return, independent from market risks???? A sole proprieter would have to have a 2 million dollar retirement fund which yields 6% per year which would get you the $10,000 per month..

So obviuosly the fireman/woman didnt kick in this much him/herself…it is the taxpayers that are getting bled.[/quote]

How much do you think a similar position in the private sector would pay?

A CEO of a 1000 employee company (about the size of the San Diego firefighting force) probably would make at LEAST about 100K more per year than she did in terms of salary (and more likely, significantly more – and for what, in my opinion, is a lot less responsibility).

Basically, we, the public, are shorting them on their pay during active service, and making it up in terms of retirement benefits.