"[San Mateo] county employee pension costs will rise by $13 million in 2013-14, one fiscal year from now. If the sales tax hike is approved by the electorate, it would provide an anticipated extra $60 million in available revenues on an annual basis. Which means ... the boost in pension requirements would eat up just over 20 percent of the projected new dollars right out of the gate ... Once again, the long-term impact of generous public employee pension costs, not to mention retiree health benefits, remain among the most vexing fiscal realities confronting every taxpayer and public official in the county, and in the state."  MORE >>