To cover unfunded health care and pension costs for current and future Wayne County government retirees, every man, woman and child living in the county would have to ante up more than $1,100 over the next 30 years.
Or, collectively, $2.1 billion.
Last week, the Free Press reported exclusively that the county's pension system has a $601-million shortfall. That's chump change compared with the county's unpaid tab for health care for its retirees -- a staggering $1.5 billion.
The county is paying about $33.6 million to cover retiree health care -- enough to cover only current year costs. To start paying down its long-term liability, it would have to add $52 million a year.
By contrast, Oakland County's retiree health care costs are fully funded; Macomb County's are about 21% funded.
