Bell to propose domestic partner benefits for City of Toledo employees

Toledo Mayor Mike Bell will hold a press conference tomorrow to annouce his proposed legislation that would extend benefits to domestic partners of city employees.  Interestingly, they mention that since 2007, the Domestic Partner Registry the city created for residents has had 167 couples participate.  (Why they believe the participation of .1% of the population on a registry is important to the pending legislation is unknown.)

I did send an email to the city to ask if they've estimated the cost of this extension of benefits, considering that the city plans to raid $12 million from the Capital Improvements Program (CIP) fund just to balance the 2012 budget.  I'll let you know what they say.

Here is the press release:

Mayor to propose legislation extending benefits to Domestic Partners

Toledo Mayor Michael P. Bell will be joined by members of Toledo City Council and Equality Toledo at a press conference at 10 a.m. Friday, April 27, 2012 in the lobby of One Government Center to announce the introduction of legislation extending benefits to domestic partners of City employees.

Toledo City Council in 2007 passed legislation creating a Domestic Partnership Registry to recognized unmarried residents of the city who have formed committed and faithful relationships. Since 2007, 167 couples around the community have registered to formally acknowledge their relationship. The practice of offering employee benefits to domestic partners is not new policy in Ohio. Local employers including the University of Toledo, Lucas County, Owens Corning and the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce currently offer domestic partner benefits. Additionally the cities of Cleveland and Columbus and Franklin County in Ohio include domestic partners in their benefits package eligibility.

The administration will ask for first reading of the legislation at the May 1st Agenda Review meeting.

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