John Curry to John Brandt: Explain yourself; 115,000 retirees want to know

Today's news release re: proposed increases in contribution rates to STRS

10/19/05

John Curry's message to John Brandt, Executive Director, OSBA:

I am a retired educator under the STRS retirement system. Today, in the Akron Beacon Journal, I see a quote attributed to you as you about the proposed increase in contribution rates by both active teachers and school boards to the Ohio STRS. The quote I am focusing on is, "Brandt said the increases are unnecessary." This quote is in response to the topic of said increased contribution rates.

John, you may be "well heeled" when it comes to your personal finances, but there are tens of thousands of retirees who have dedicated their lives to teaching Ohio's youth who are "in a financial pickle" right now due to the ungodly high cost of STRS health care insurance.

I retired (with 30 years service) as a teacher in the year 2000. My health care insurance premium (through STRS) for my spouse and myself was $155 per month from Ohio STRS in the year 2000. Currently (6 years later) that same premium is $676 per month. That translates into an increase of 336%! Would you please explain to me and tens of thousands of retirees why "the increases are unnecessary?" The article that I am referring to can be viewed below. If you wish documentation, I will be glad to provide it to you. Thank you.

Sincerely,
John Curry
An STRS retiree and Proud Member of CORE (Concerned Ohio Retired Educators)

Posted on Wed, Oct. 19, 2005
School boards girding for fight from teachers over benefits
Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio - School boards are promising to defeat a coalition of teachers' unions and pension funds that wants to increase contributions from teachers and their employers toward health care benefits for retirees.

The teachers' group, led by the State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio, has scheduled meetings in 14 cities starting next week to discuss legislation that would raise such contributions 2.5 percent over five years.

"We will go public and start a war no one wants to fight," said John Brandt, executive director of the Ohio School Boards Association.

Teachers now contribute 10 percent of their salaries into the state's second-largest public retirement system. Employers such as school boards and colleges contribute 14 percent.

Brandt said increases are unnecessary. But officials from the retirement system say its 115,000 retirees have had to shoulder more of their health care costs, which have increased by about 10 percent a year since 2000. The system's 213,000 active members aren't prepared for the costs they'll face upon retirement, either, spokeswoman Laura Ecklar said.

Most of the state's retirement systems are contributing the maximum amount to retirees.

The coalition will meet with teachers through Nov. 17. It will go forward with a legislative proposal only if it has strong support, Ecklar said.

10/19/05
Nancy Hamant's take:
Radical words from Mr. Brandt about the Health Care Advocates proposal. This reflects the sad state of Ohio funding for schools. It is too bad that Mr. Brandt thinks it is appropriate to attack elderly and retired educators on fixed incomes, when the real enemy is the Legislature who has reduced Ohio's schools to dogs fighting over the last scrap of food and bone.

Nancy B. Hamant