Frustrations are growing in the city of Chester, Pa., over the possibility that hundreds of workers could lose their pensions, WPVI reported. During a meeting at Chester City Hall, the standing-room-only crowd of current and past city of Chester employees got a chance to have a Q&A session with the members of the state's team that is supposed to correct Chester's sinking financial ship. Eliminating retiree health care, cutting the city's costs for active employees' medical benefits and reducing the city's pension and debt-service costs are potentially on the chopping block. "The issue right now is Chester faces a $46.5 million deficit next year on a $55 million budget. We are forced to consider a lot of very harsh measures," said Vijay Kapor, who is the chief of staff for Chester's receiver. Officials say that along with a lack of tax revenue, there's one other major issue that contributes to this. "The retirees are absolutely right that for a very long period of time the city did not make its full contributions to its pension funds and they have every right to be upset about that," Kapor said. Those who are set to be impacted say that's not fair. There's no date set for when this could happen. Officials also say that Chester may have to declare bankruptcy.
