MEMPHIS, Tenn. — One Memphis man was in tears and even had to leave the Council Committee meeting early Tuesday because of all the controversy surrounding health care for retirees under 65 years old.
Council member Wanda Halbert asked members of the administration to come up with options when it came to health care costs.
WREG spoke with one man who’s a retired Police Officer.
He said if the city didn’t come up with a better plan, he could lose everything.
“I just needed to leave,” he said.
“This would mean us selling our house,” said Kim Booker.
The city’s HR director gave people like David and his wife Kim some relief when he said there were options for retirees set to lose all city subsidees at the end of the calendar year.
“We are looking to expand services that we currently offer at the City of Memphis employee clinic,” said Quintin Robinson.
Councilwoman Wanda Halbert fought to get some of the subsidees back even though they’re not in next year’s budget; she fired back at Councilman Harold Collins who said this should’ve been handled during budget talks.
“This council can do whatever the heck it wants to do, whenever it wants to do it. They can adjust the budget,” she said.
That’s something Sherrie Hopper said must happen to keep employees like her husband, a retired firefighter, and Officer Booker.
“This was a wonderful officer. This is the type of officer we want serving the city and without benefits, we won`t get another Officer Booker again. This man will lose everything.
Halbert asked administration to present more information about this topic to City Council in August.