Columbus Dispatch: Pension workers’ raises upset retirees

Columbus Dispatch, June 24, 2018
Pension workers’ raises upset retirees

Retired Ohio educators and others are livid with the leadership and board of the School Employees Retirement System of Ohio amid an ongoing fight.

The board last week approved a pool of money (equivalent to 3 percent of overall payroll) for merit raises, including a 3.1 percent raise for Executive Director Richard Stensrud to boost his pay to $257,750 a year. A total of 170 of the system’s 181 employees will receive raises of 0.7 to 3.7 percent.

The cause of the discontent: The board voted last fall to impose a three-year freeze on cost-of-living increases for 80,000 retirees, who receive an average monthly pension check of $1,233, Ludlow reports.

Lois Carson, a 30-year secretary with Columbus City Schools nearing retirement, gave the board an earful: “We trusted you with our pension. You froze it. You have money to give yourself a 3 percent raise based on merit. Based on what you did investing our money. So you’re increasing your pay. Not on your money ... on my money.”

The Ohio Association of Public School Employees is suing to restore cost-of-living allowances, accusing SERS of “fraud and misrepresentation.” The system denies the charges and is fighting the suit.

SERS spokesman Tim Barbour said the raises given to employees help avoid turnover and were less than the average 5 percent annual raise received by still-working members of the retirement system.

drowland@dispatch.com 

@darreldrowland