John Curry to Bill Leibensperger: please help us understand some things before OEA and CORE sit on the same side of the table

Bill, after talking to Molly, I understand you believe that some of Dr. Leone's findings might have been exaggerated. Please correct me if that's not the case. Below is a list of items Dr. Leone has given as examples misspending and mismanagement at Ohio STRS. Would you please comment on any item or items below that you feel is not completely truthful and factual and/or any other items that you think Dennis might have not portrayed properly? This would be an excellent opportunity for you and the OEA to enlighten tens of thousands of STRS retirees who are still waiting for an explanation of why your OEA President Gary Allen said that Dr. Leone's "logic is hard to follow," and that "his motives are unclear." This may help us understand for once and for all. Now would be an excellent time to clear up any disagreements your organization may have with Leone's findings before your organization and my organization sit on the same side of the table to tell Ohio voters why increased contribution rates are necessary Thank you.

John Curry, a Proud CORE member

P.S. I would have asked you this in person this past Thursday at the STRS meeting, but I had to work (after my STRS retirement). I simply can't afford what many recent OEA member speakers to the STRS board in the September meeting portrayed to the Board as a CURRENTLY "affordable" health care insurance offering to my spouse and I by STRS.

The following represent a number of spending abuses discovered by Dennis Leone that occurred at STRS since 1995.

1. $94.2 million on the new STRS headquarters.

2. $869,235 on artwork, sculptures and polished stones for the new STRS building.

3. $818,000 on a child care services center for the children of STRS employees.

4. $500,000 per year to run the child care services center.

5. $426,000 on a fitness center in the STRS building.

6. $88,397 per year to provide food services for STRS employees.

7. $428,056 on 16 cars, vans, and SUV's.

8. STRS Board policy that permitted staff members to drive STRS vehicles for personal use, and the family members of said employees to drive said vehicles.

9. 52 American Express Credit Cards and 20 BG gas cards used Board members and STRS staff members.

10. Alcohol purchases occurred by staff members and Board members attending conferences -- using STRS credit cards.

11. $18,810 on "Discovery Park" gala event, including the purchase of disposable cameras for attendees.

12. $15,100 on new STRS building dedication, including alcohol and gifts for attendees, as well as airfare and lodging for out-of-town STRS visitors.

13. $4,100 on a private retirement party for an STRS Board member.

14. $5,594 on poinsettias to decorate STRS during the holiday season in 2002.

15. $1,000 dinners for 12 board members/staff members on 2 occasions, again with alcohol.

16. $7,116 for baseball tickets, concert tickets, movie rentals, and Kings Island tickets for STRS employees in the summer of 2003 for "team building."

17. $530,284 spent by Board on trips and meetings around the country in 2000, 2001, and 2002.

18. Multiple trips taken by Board members and staff to places like Honolulu, Palm Springs, Kiawah Island, and Anchorage. A planned trip to China in 1995 was cancelled after it was suggested that it would have the appearance of junketeering.

19. Frequent occurrences of at least 6 Board members going to the same meeting, sometimes twice a year, costing STRS over $9,000 each year.

20. $36,736 spent by a Board member Jack Chapman in a single year for trips all over the country.

21. $1,017 airplane ticket for a Board member that would have cost $258 if it had been purchased 30 days in advance of the conference.

22. $1 million cash payback per year to full-time STRS employees for 18 days of unused staff vacation days and unused sick leave.

23. Total administrative expenses at STRS increased 17.4% per year between 1996 and 2002.

24. Total STRS employees increased from 414 to 725 between 1996 and 2002.

25. A total of 1,035 employee bonus checks were issued to STRS staff in 2000, 2001 and 2002.

26. $24.4 million was awared in bonus checks to employees between 1998 and 2003.

27. $3.2 million had to be paid by STRS to PERS because of bonuses alone since 1998 to satisfy that pension system's 13.31% annual employee contribution requirement. STRS employees are members of PERS.

28. 34 STRS employees in 2002 received bonus checks in excess of $40,000 (with 18 of those getting bonuses in excess of $70,000).

29. One STRS employee received bonus checks of $110,000 and $68,800 in 2001 on top his base salary of $164,000.

30. Over 150 STRS employees had base salaries over $100,000 in 2002, with 32 of those making over $155,000 -- topping the salaries of both the governor and the chief justice of the State Supreme Court.

31. A total of $39,251 was paid to the Perry Local School District by STRS in 2002 and 2003 for sub teacher costs for Board member Michael Billirakis (when he attended STRS meetings), even though he did not have a position in the school district. NEA pays Perry Local the dollar amount associated with the salary and beneifts for Billirakis, enabling him to be listed as an employee.

32. Excess STRS furniture was sold to STRS employees in 2000 and 2001 for $27,703, and instead of this amount going back into the pension fund, it was given to charities.

33. The regular work week for STRS employees is 37 1/2 hours.

34. If an STRS employee adopts a child, the STRS Board awards a $5,000 cash gift to said employee.

35. Between 1999 and 2004, the STRS Board paid out $2.1 million in educational stipends for STRS employees to take college courses. This amount was double what the other 4 public pension systems in Ohio paid out combined over the same time period. STRS pays up to $7,000 per year (per employee) for undergraduate or graduate work.