Paul Boyer's letter in Lima News: Retired teachers trying to get more
Lima News
December 6, 2005
Paul L. Boyer, Lima
As a retired schoolteacher and recipient of benefits from the State Teachers Retirement System, I am mighty happy with what they have done for our health-care costs.
All STRS retirees can relax in knowing their monthly premium for 2006 will not be more than 3 percent above this year’s cost and there will be no increase in the cost of prescriptions. In fact, the cost of generic medicines will decrease for local and mail-away by $5 and $10, respectively.
As a member of Concerned Ohio Retired Teachers, I have worked diligently over the past 2½ years to reform the board and its spending practices.
Health Care Advocates, a group of educational organizations, and STRS recently held a series of meetings around the state to solicit support for a plan to ask the Legislature to grant them the authority to receive more money from active teachers and school boards. This extra money will go almost entirely into the health-care fund.
Because of the knowledge I have gained in the past years, I am highly supportive of this move. STRS will not take this move unless there is a strong show of support from these meetings. Currently, every school board pays 14 percent of the teachers’ salary and every schoolteacher pays 10 percent into the fund. STRS cannot increase these fees without a bill in the Legislature. School boards have not had an increase in more than 20 years and teachers received a small increase a few years ago.
If STRS goes to the Legislature, it will ask for an increase of 2.5 percent from each source. Without this extra money, and with health-care costs constantly raising, our health-care fund will run out of money. Retirement without health care is a bummer.
December 6, 2005
Paul L. Boyer, Lima
As a retired schoolteacher and recipient of benefits from the State Teachers Retirement System, I am mighty happy with what they have done for our health-care costs.
All STRS retirees can relax in knowing their monthly premium for 2006 will not be more than 3 percent above this year’s cost and there will be no increase in the cost of prescriptions. In fact, the cost of generic medicines will decrease for local and mail-away by $5 and $10, respectively.
As a member of Concerned Ohio Retired Teachers, I have worked diligently over the past 2½ years to reform the board and its spending practices.
Health Care Advocates, a group of educational organizations, and STRS recently held a series of meetings around the state to solicit support for a plan to ask the Legislature to grant them the authority to receive more money from active teachers and school boards. This extra money will go almost entirely into the health-care fund.
Because of the knowledge I have gained in the past years, I am highly supportive of this move. STRS will not take this move unless there is a strong show of support from these meetings. Currently, every school board pays 14 percent of the teachers’ salary and every schoolteacher pays 10 percent into the fund. STRS cannot increase these fees without a bill in the Legislature. School boards have not had an increase in more than 20 years and teachers received a small increase a few years ago.
If STRS goes to the Legislature, it will ask for an increase of 2.5 percent from each source. Without this extra money, and with health-care costs constantly raising, our health-care fund will run out of money. Retirement without health care is a bummer.
posted by Kathie Bracy at 7:19 AM
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