Can CA afford to boost benefits for police and firefighters?

Three bills to boost benefits and pay for California police officers and firefighters are progressing in the Legislature with bipartisan support, but their high costs may challenge approval by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The proposals include lowering the retirement age for public safety workers to 55, creating deferred retirement programs, and raising firefighter pay, with potential annual costs exceeding $282 million and long-term liabilities of $4.8 billion.