A strong case for a legislative increase in employer contribution to STRS: RH Jones

To all fellow taxpayers:

The OSBA and the OH legislature needs to realize that charter schools are a double unsuccessful misadventure. First, having both public and charter schools systems has been a double failure for the OSBA -- the resulting higher costs have strapped OH taxpaying families. The drain of tax dollars into charter schools has been a statistically proven failure. Second, as a consequence, the public schools have suffered as the professionally active and retired teachers have had to absorb and cope with diminishing school system budgets. Therefore, since public school district budgets mostly must go to employ professional educators; and, as trained educators seek employment elsewhere, the quality of K-12 education in OH has been deficient. A sound retirement system that offers HC/Rx, and a compounded cost of living, is undeniably part of a strong attraction to the education profession.

In moving the state's economy forward, the OSBA and the legislature should carefully consider increasing the 14% employer contribution to the STRS. A constantly shorted public education budget cannot get our state back where it should be. It has been proven that an educated population is a stimulus to the economy of the state.

Granted the state's economy is not what it should be, but we the taxpayers must "bite bullet" and do what is necessary for the public school educators of our children, our future.

RHJones, a taxpayer and a retired OH teacher
10/25/05