If you are currently a NYS teacher/ if you are a retired NYS teacher you need to read

[katiemack Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close katiemack]

Hi,
NYSUT has a small article that discusses the latest move by Gov. Pataki to dismantle the pension system as we have known it.

Click on the link: Gov wants to Change the pension benefits for NYS employees

If you want to write to your local legislators, here is a link: Write to Your Legislator

Look for this in the list: Reject Executive Budget Proposal to Establish a Pension Reform Task Force and click on that.

if you are about this, please , spread the word!

[timeos2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close timeos2]

It's a good thing

As a NYS Retirement system member AND NYS resident I see the process proposed as a positive not the doomsday you seem to think it would be. Lets face it, NYS is the highest taxed state in the US and they need to find ways to cut costs. Now I know there is plenty of fat in management and pork jobs but even if they were all gone tomorrow the remaining burden is beyond the ability of the average wage earner in NY to pay. Add in the existing debt and the problem is massive.

What is being proposed is in line with what is happening in the private sector. It wouldn't apply to those near or even 10 years or more from retirement. It is to get the future benefits promised in line with what can be paid for. If the unions would take a long term approach rather than the short term view maybe manufacturing and some service jobs could also be saved - but this is a least a start at getting the NYS tax department out of our pockets.

Not everybody can move out of NY to avoid taxes so its about time the Governor and the Legislature takes action to truly lower the base cost of NYS Government. Lets hope they succeed rather than pander again to the teachers/CSEA/and whatever other unions might cry foul. Remember those groups are the ones that prevented us from getting out of Social Security in the 70's when we had the chance as State& County workers. How much would THAT have put in our savings accounts by now if they hadn't been so hard headed?

[katiemack Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close katiemack]

....
.... It wouldn't apply to those near or even 10 years or more from retirement. It is to get the future benefits promised in line with what can be paid for. ...

timeos2,
You sound like you have some information we are missing...could you lead me to the source of this? It would be helpful. Thanks.

[timeos2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close timeos2]

I looked but can't find

There is no one post I can locate with that info in it. I'm taking the information from the State, the newspaper (always risky I know), the news reports (ditto) and my own contact with the NYS retirement system over 35 years. All those sources say it is for future retirees not anyone looking to leave in the next 10 to 15 years.

[katiemack Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close katiemack]

Hi John,
You are mentioning NYS RS, and our info was in reference to the NYS TRS (Teacher's Retirement System). But I am guessing they run parallel.

As for the info you have received, we have not. In fact, we have heard no news like your latest post reported...

Your earlier reply seems to indicate a hostility toward unions and labor and teachers...or am I reading that wrong?

My post was merely to inform anyone who has an interest in protecting their retirement from the antics of raiding politicians and lobbyists.

Also, I have to ask: am I to take your remark that "Not everybody can move out of NY to avoid taxes " as some sort of shot at me and my husband because we chose to relocate to Arizona from NY?

It reads to be some sort of antagonistic remark..if it wasn't meant to be, I apologize for reading it as such.

We left NY in 1993. We moved after we both served many years in the NYS public school system. We served...I will not have anyone denigrate our roles...we are proud to have taught and guided...just like military personnel are proud of their service...there are front lines in today's schools (Columbine comes to mind) ...my husband especially gave 45 years of his life to children and their parents.

He worked for one of the poorest paying districts on L.I. He had to work a second job most of his career to make a decent income.

As far as I know, this is still the USA and folks can choose to move from a state if they choose.

FYI...we don't avoid paying taxes....ARIZONA taxes our retirement every year...and we worked here for some years, paying taxes here on that income earned. And while we worked in NYS we paid plenty of taxes to NY governments.

As for having the Governor's scheme being in line with the private sector...who says the private sector is to be used as a model to admire?

There are many folks in the private sector who are in deep trouble because their funds have been "re-tooled", raided or embezzled by execs.

Perhaps if the NYS Governor and his pals were not so interested in providing corporate welfare, and if the state's counties were run with citizens in mind rather than feeding the political cronies and keeping their party-machine in power, there would not be a scenario as you describe.

As for having NYS put the Teacher's retirement pensions into the hands of independent investment....that seems to be more likely the result of lobbying, and not based on the real facts that the pension system is well managed and guided by the Board of Directors with a great record.

More than likely it is just another way for a bunch of politicians to keep the good old boys happy, and break open a lock-box and raid the funds.

If the NYS Union of Teachers and others teachers want to fight that from happening...all I can say is "go for it".

Again, all I wanted to do is point out to some folks who might have a retirement in NYS Teacher's Retirement System to have some links about the talks that are rumbling around Albany.