RH Jones: Employee/employer contribution increase needed as STRS spends $50,000 per HOUR on health care

April 1, 2006

To all:

As related to me, by Dr. Fluke, regarding the State of Connecticut's problems with the security of their pension system, by comparison, we STRS retirees have a benefit that is vested by the state. According to Terri Bierdeman of STRS, who spoke at the Canton ORTA meeting last week, our check is secure; but ad hocs, such as the yearly 3% simple COLA, are not.

Also, it is interesting to note, she stated that STRS spends $50,000 on HC each hour. This leads me to believe there is therefore a strong need for the joint employee/employer increase. Reasonable people would surely agree.

RHJones