STRS PLEASE CONSIDER!

From Mario Iacone, June 28, 2009

Cuts to Retirees have much more impact than Cuts to Active Workers!

Retiree Employment Options are limited!

Retiree Health Care costs increase at a far greater percentage!

Cuts in Cost Of Living Adjustments will impact retirees for the rest of their lives.

I would ask all retirees to contact the STRS Board Members and ask them to consider the huge negative impact on retirees of reducing COLA.

I would not even attempt to say it any better than Bob Stein did in a previous discussion.

One of the few things that I don't think has been considered enough is that $1000 does not have the same value to a retiree as it does to an active. A retiree has made all of their retirement decisions and is bound by them. They can't continue to work at an equivalent job or take extra contracts to boost their current income and future retirement as an active can. Money lost to a retiree directly affects their standard of living for the rest of their life. An active still has a few choices and some planning can be done. Retirees are also on their own for healthcare while an active has an employer to negotiate with. With any luck we may have a decent national plan in time to help us with that part of our problems.