The city of Chattanooga currently is in debt $400 million and simply cannot afford to expand healthcare coverage to unmarried or same sex partners of city employees. City Councilman Anderson who intends to introduce legislation to offer benefits for partners of same sex couples and unmarried couples to model that of the city of Collegedale is being fiscally irresponsible.
Chattanooga should adopt a cost control approach to this issue and follow the lead of businesses, such as United Parcel Service; universities, such as the University of Virginia; and cities, such as Terre Haute, Ind., that are limiting employee partner health benefits (regardless of sexual orientation) to control healthcare costs. Partners of city employees can acquire healthcare insurance through either their own employers or through the Obamacare federal healthcare exchanges that are now established.
The Chattanooga City Council should explore ways to control cost and reduce city expenses rather than increase cost as the Collegedale Council did at the expense of their taxpayers.
William F. Todd