"The National League of Cities ... took a poll of its members in 2012 to determine the most popular methods for coping with personnel costs at a time of economic stagnation and declining tax revenue.... At the bottom [of the list:] Changing union contracts, cutting back health care benefits, and reforming pension funds. This despite the fact that seven out of 10 city finance directors said public-employee benefits were having significant negative impacts on their budgets ... Officials are unable or unwilling to confront the root causes of municipal decrepitude."  MORE >>