>>> June 06, 2002

Snip ’n’ Tuck, USA

Niagara County, NY, residents saw a 20 per cent rise in property taxes last year, but that pain must be greatly offset by the pleasure of gazing at the county employees that their dollars helped fix up through the cosmetic surgery covered under a taxpayer-funded health insurance plan.
With $1.25-million (U.S.) paid for cosmetic procedures over the past three years, Niagara County Legislature Chairman Bradley Erck is one official suggesting people might want their money spent on things more beneficial than a receptionist with a nice rack. Employees argue they’ve sacrificed wage increases for the surgery and are not about to give it up.

“We earned that,” said Ed McDonald, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. There was no indication whether or not McDonald was one of those who benefited from the penile implants, liposuction, nose jobs or breast implants that added to the $523,974 (U.S.) in fees last year. :

—Scott Saxon