FLASHBACK, 3 YEARS AGO: Could this involve some more of the Dennis Leone-type logic that -- to some -- was "difficult to follow"?

Note from John: Since Dr. Leone has brought many of the below perks into question -- STRS has hatcheted many of them. A little legislative grousing has also helped. Meanwhile, hop in the PT Cruiser and take a tour! A word of consolation -- Herbie "left Dodge" before the PT Cruiser left the garage!

_______

STRS is tops in employee perks Canton Repository, July 31, 2003 By PAUL E. KOSTYU Copley Columbus Bureau chief COLUMBUS — Ohio has five public retirement funds. The State Teachers Retirement System is not the largest in investment portfolio, nor in members. But it outstrips all others in the number of employees and the credit cards and cars they get. The teachers system owns 16 vehicles, including two Dodge Durango SUVs costing about $34,000 each. Eight of the vehicles are assigned to executives. Five of those executives can drive them on personal trips. In fact, so can their families. The system also pays the insurance on the fleet, which is valued at $428,101 and includes 10 vans, a truck, two sedans, a wagon and the Durangos. Another expense for the state system is 50 American Express credit cards distributed to employees and board members, and 20 BP gas cards. “They don’t need to exist in that magnitude,” said Rep. Michelle G. Schneider, R-Cincinnati, a critic of the system’s spending. The teachers fund guidelines say that the vehicles assigned to Executive Director Herbert Dyer and his four deputies can be used “for both business and personal use,” though the latter is “considered as taxable income” to the employee and must be reported to the Internal Revenue Service and Ohio Department of Taxation. Any family member with a driver’s license can use the vehicles as long as the employee is in it or, “is about to be picked up or has just been dropped off.” In other words, an employee’s son can take the vehicle and his friends on a trip as long as he drops off dad or mom at work on the way. No other pension fund has that policy. In fact, none of the directors of the state’s four other funds use a company car. But the Ohio Police and Fireman’s Pension Fund, which employs 180 people, allows some personal spending on American Express cards it distributes. Thirty-two employees and board members have the cards, at a cost of $50 each. The police fund also maintains three cards for its purchasing department, five corporate AT&T calling cards (though four are locked in a safe), and three corporate Sam’s Club cards. The fund has one vehicle, a 1999 Ford Windstar van, used to carry supplies and mail. Laurie Hacking, executive director of the Public Employees Retirement System, the state’s largest in terms of members and portfolio, has no vehicle assigned to her. And none of that fund’s fleet of seven vans and five cars can be used for personal use. Hacking said vehicles must be reserved in advance for pension fund-related trips. Gas credit cards are checked out with a vehicle and mileage must be recorded. Hacking uses her own car and submits mileage for reimbursement for fund-related trips. The fund, however, has 60 cards from three gas companies, a number Hacking said is high and “being looked at.” As for credit cards, the Public Employees Retirement System issues MasterCards to 21 people. There is no annual fee. Hacking said the number of cards will be reduced because Bank One now will allow cards to be issued to departments instead of individuals. “It will make cleaner record keeping,” said Hacking, who has no corporate card. “We don’t want as many cards out there.” Richard Curtis, executive director of the Highway Patrol Retirement System, the state’s smallest, also uses his personal car for fund business. There are no gas credit cards. “There is no practical value in having a (corporate) car,” said Curtis, who drives about 10 miles one way to work each day. “There is less expense and less overhead for maintenance and insurance.” His pension fund distributes eight Visa credit cards obtained through the Highway Patrol Credit Union, which has no annual fee. One card is assigned to Curtis and each of the seven board members in their name with a tracking number. Curtis said the card holders are billed individually for their purchases and are reimbursed if proper receipts are submitted. The same policy is used at the teacher’s retirement system, according to Robert A. Slater, deputy executive director of finance. But the teachers system has an exception: board members. The only board members without fund credit cards are the representatives of Attorney General Jim Petro and Auditor Betty Montgomery. But Steven Puckett, who joined the board in January to represent Ohio Department of Education Superintendent Susan Tave Zelman, has one. He’s used it twice for a trip to Milwaukee to attend training seminars. “So often using a personal card, the reimbursement lag time is extensive,” said J.C. Benton, a spokesman for Zelman. “He doesn’t travel anywhere else with it or take people out to lunch or dinner.” The American Express cards are given to teachers fund employees “who travel frequently as part of their responsibilities or who make local purchases,” Slater said. The cards cannot be used for personal purchases. The monthly statements go to the employees’ home addresses. Cards go to a range of employees including administrative assistants, portfolio managers, counselors and real estate buyers. Executive Director Herbert L. Dyer turned down an American Express card, though he has a BP card, said spokeswoman Laura Ecklar. Dyer’s executive assistant Eileen Boles has an American Express card. Dyer uses his personal credit card and submits receipts for reimbursement. Schneider said she was aghast at the number of STRS vehicles and credit cards. “Every week there’s a new abuse,” she said. Letting “a whole family drive” an STRS car “is ludicrous. All of this going to have to change.” Schneider owns and operates a skilled nursing facility and a home health-care agency with 350 employees. She said they use their own cars and credit cards for business trips. “There is very little abuse, if any, if you do it that way,” she said. Another critic, Sen. Kirk Schuring, R-Jackson Township, said it is not uncommon for business executives to have corporate cars and credit cards. But “given the extravagant past behavior of (STRS), it’s important ... there’s not abuse of the perks,” he said. You can reach Columbus Bureau Chief Paul E. Kostyu at (614) 222-8901 or e-mail: paul.kostyu@cantonrep.com Dyer OK’d board’s own $1,037 restaurant tab One example of State Teachers Retirement system spending. An expense report Executive Director Herbert L. Dyer submitted on March 18, 2002, for a 15-person meal at a Columbus restaurant showed a $1,037 bill for a “board dinner with deputies after committee meeting.” Dyer signed the report twice — once as the person submitting the expense and a second time approving its payment. Approving one’s own expenditures and its circumstances are items that probably would be reviewed in the course of an audit, said Eric Hardgrove, a spokesman for State Auditor Betty Montgomery. The Dyer bill, minus a $165 tip, meant that each person spent an average of $58 for their meal. The receipt did not indicate whether alcohol was part of the tab. Even though every agency is set up differently, Hardgrove said, there must be a system of checks and balances in handling expenses. “All significant transactions need to be scrutinized,” he said. — Paul E. Kostyu Pension funds Ohio has five public retirement pension funds. In terms of porfolios and membership, the Public Employees Retirement System is biggest. In terms of employees, staff credit cards and staff vehicles, the State Teachers Retirement System is the largest. State Teachers Retirement System Portfolio $47.2 billion Employees 659 full time, 30 part time or interns Membership 413,219 Vehicles 16 Corporate Card American Express Number 50 Total Annual Fee $1,750 Gas Card BP Number 20 Public Employees Retirement System Portfolio $52 billion Employees 545 Membership 797,232 Vehicles 12 Corporate Card MasterCard Number 21 Total Annual Fee None Gas Card Shell, BP, Sunoco Number 60 Highway Patrol Retirement System Portfolio $554 million Employees 9 Membership 2,800 Vehicles None Corporate Card Visa Number 8 Total Annual Fee None Gas Card None Number None School Employees Retirement System Portfolio $7.2 billion Employees 164 Membership 180,000 Vehicles 5 Corporate Card American Express and VISA Number 9 and 3 Total Annual Fee $900 Gas Card BP Number 8 Police and Firemen’s Disablity and Pension Fund Portfolio $7.8 billion Employees 180 full time, 4 part time Membership 52,000 Vehicles 1 Corporate Card American Express Number 35 Total Annual Fee $1,750 Gas Card BP Number 2 Sources: Ohio’s five public pension funds — Paul E. Kostyu STRS credit cards The State Teachers Retirement System has issued 50 credit cards and 20 gasoline cards to staff and board members. The rules for the cards are: Corporate Credit Card Eligibility 1. Take at least three trips per year, spend $500 yearly on local meals and-or make purchases to meet departmental business needs. 2. Satisfactory credit history 3. Annual review to determine continued necessity. Use and Responsibility 1. Lodging, car rental, meals, organizations and business purchases, board uses and airline travel. 2. Personal use is prohibited and “will result in cancellation of card privileges.” Abuse will be noted in employee’s personnel file and made part of next annual review. 3. Annual fees are reimbursable. 4. Receipts required for expenditures over $15. 5. Reimbursement will occur within 48 hours of submitting approved expense report. 6. Monthly invoices are sent to employee’s home address. 7. Invoiced amount must be paid within 10 days. 8. Overdue accounts not paid within five days of notification could result in cancellation of credit card, payroll deduction for personal expenses and disciplinary action. Source: State Teachers Retirement System — Paul E. Kostyu State Teachers Retirement System staff vehicles The State Teachers Retirement System has 16 vehicles assigned to staff. Here are the vehicles, purchase prices and staffers they’re assigned to. 2002 Chrysler LHX Van: $24,833 Sandy Knoesel, deputy executive director, member benefits 2003 Chrysler LX Van: $34,277 member benefits counseling staff 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser: $24,443 Herbert Dyer, executive director 2004 Chrysler 300M sedan: $30,132 Damon Asbury, deputy executive director, administration 2003 Dodge Caravan: $24,225 member benefits counseling staff 2003 Dodge Caravan: $23,950 member benefits counseling staff 2003 Dodge Caravan: $23,950 member benefits counseling staff 2001 Dodge Durango SLT: $33,650 Greg Taylor, director, information technology service 2002 Dodge Durango SLT: $34,535 Steve Mitchell, deputy executive director, investments 2001 Ford F-150 XLT Truck: $27,550 Greg Ruess, director, building services 1998 Plymouth Voyager van: $23,250 mail center staff 1999 Plymouth Voyager van: $23,825 Fred Williams, director of administrative services 2000 Plymouth Voyager van: $23,250 information technology service staff 2000 Plymouth Voyager van: $24,472 member benefits counseling staff 2000 Plymouth Voyager van: $23,862 member benefits counseling staff 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix: $27,897 Robert Slater, deputy executive director for finance Source: State Teachers Retirement System — Paul E. Kostyu

STRS Flashback - 6 Years Ago - A big "Thank You, Dr. Leone," for putting an axe to extravagance...will it come back once you're gone?

From John Curry, June 30, 2009

STRS is tops in employee perks
Canton Repository, July 31, 2003
By PAUL E. KOSTYU
Copley Columbus Bureau chief

COLUMBUS — Ohio has five public retirement funds. The State Teachers Retirement System is not the largest in investment portfolio, nor in members.

But it outstrips all others in the number of employees and the credit cards and cars they get.

The teachers system owns 16 vehicles, including two Dodge Durango SUVs costing about $34,000 each. Eight of the vehicles are assigned to executives. Five of those executives can drive them on personal trips. In fact, so can their families.

The system also pays the insurance on the fleet, which is valued at $428,101 and includes 10 vans, a truck, two sedans, a wagon and the Durangos.

Another expense for the state system is 50 American Express credit cards distributed to employees and board members, and 20 BP gas cards.

“They don’t need to exist in that magnitude,” said Rep. Michelle G. Schneider, R-Cincinnati, a critic of the system’s spending.

The teachers fund guidelines say that the vehicles assigned to Executive Director Herbert Dyer and his four deputies can be used “for both business and personal use,” though the latter is “considered as taxable income” to the employee and must be reported to the Internal Revenue Service and Ohio Department of Taxation.

Any family member with a driver’s license can use the vehicles as long as the employee is in it or, “is about to be picked up or has just been dropped off.”

In other words, an employee’s son can take the vehicle and his friends on a trip as long as he drops off dad or mom at work on the way.

No other pension fund has that policy. In fact, none of the directors of the state’s four other funds use a company car.

But the Ohio Police and Fireman’s Pension Fund, which employs 180 people, allows some personal spending on American Express cards it distributes.

Thirty-two employees and board members have the cards, at a cost of $50 each. The police fund also maintains three cards for its purchasing department, five corporate AT&T calling cards (though four are locked in a safe), and three corporate Sam’s Club cards. The fund has one vehicle, a 1999 Ford Windstar van, used to carry supplies and mail.

Laurie Hacking, executive director of the Public Employees Retirement System, the state’s largest in terms of members and portfolio, has no vehicle assigned to her. And none of that fund’s fleet of seven vans and five cars can be used for personal use.

Hacking said vehicles must be reserved in advance for pension fund-related trips. Gas credit cards are checked out with a vehicle and mileage must be recorded. Hacking uses her own car and submits mileage for reimbursement for fund-related trips. The fund, however, has 60 cards from three gas companies, a number Hacking said is high and “being looked at.”

As for credit cards, the Public Employees Retirement System issues MasterCards to 21 people. There is no annual fee. Hacking said the number of cards will be reduced because Bank One now will allow cards to be issued to departments instead of individuals.

“It will make cleaner record keeping,” said Hacking, who has no corporate card. “We don’t want as many cards out there.”

Richard Curtis, executive director of the Highway Patrol Retirement System, the state’s smallest, also uses his personal car for fund business. There are no gas credit cards.

“There is no practical value in having a (corporate) car,” said Curtis, who drives about 10 miles one way to work each day. “There is less expense and less overhead for maintenance and insurance.”

His pension fund distributes eight Visa credit cards obtained through the Highway Patrol Credit Union, which has no annual fee. One card is assigned to Curtis and each of the seven board members in their name with a tracking number.

Curtis said the card holders are billed individually for their purchases and are reimbursed if proper receipts are submitted.

The same policy is used at the teacher’s retirement system, according to Robert A. Slater, deputy executive director of finance.

But the teachers system has an exception: board members. The only board members without fund credit cards are the representatives of Attorney General Jim Petro and Auditor Betty Montgomery.

But Steven Puckett, who joined the board in January to represent Ohio Department of Education Superintendent Susan Tave Zelman, has one. He’s used it twice for a trip to Milwaukee to attend training seminars.

“So often using a personal card, the reimbursement lag time is extensive,” said J.C. Benton, a spokesman for Zelman. “He doesn’t travel anywhere else with it or take people out to lunch or dinner.”

The American Express cards are given to teachers fund employees “who travel frequently as part of their responsibilities or who make local purchases,” Slater said. The cards cannot be used for personal purchases. The monthly statements go to the employees’ home addresses.

Cards go to a range of employees including administrative assistants, portfolio managers, counselors and real estate buyers. Executive Director Herbert L. Dyer turned down an American Express card, though he has a BP card, said spokeswoman Laura Ecklar. Dyer’s executive assistant Eileen Boles has an American Express card.

Dyer uses his personal credit card and submits receipts for reimbursement.

Schneider said she was aghast at the number of STRS vehicles and credit cards.

“Every week there’s a new abuse,” she said. Letting “a whole family drive” an STRS car “is ludicrous. All of this going to have to change.”

Schneider owns and operates a skilled nursing facility and a home health-care agency with 350 employees. She said they use their own cars and credit cards for business trips.

“There is very little abuse, if any, if you do it that way,” she said.

Another critic, Sen. Kirk Schuring, R-Jackson Township, said it is not uncommon for business executives to have corporate cars and credit cards.

But “given the extravagant past behavior of (STRS), it’s important ... there’s not abuse of the perks,” he said.

Dyer OK’d board’s own $1,037 restaurant tab

One example of State Teachers Retirement system spending.

An expense report Executive Director Herbert L. Dyer submitted on March 18, 2002, for a 15-person meal at a Columbus restaurant showed a $1,037 bill for a “board dinner with deputies after committee meeting.”

Dyer signed the report twice — once as the person submitting the expense and a second time approving its payment.

Approving one’s own expenditures and its circumstances are items that probably would be reviewed in the course of an audit, said Eric Hardgrove, a spokesman for State Auditor Betty Montgomery.

The Dyer bill, minus a $165 tip, meant that each person spent an average of $58 for their meal. The receipt did not indicate whether alcohol was part of the tab.

Even though every agency is set up differently, Hardgrove said, there must be a system of checks and balances in handling expenses.

“All significant transactions need to be scrutinized,” he said.

— Paul E. Kostyu

Pension funds

Ohio has five public retirement pension funds. In terms of porfolios and membership, the Public Employees Retirement System is biggest. In terms of employees, staff credit cards and staff vehicles, the State Teachers Retirement System is the largest.

State Teachers Retirement System

Portfolio $47.2 billion

Employees 659 full time,

30 part time or interns

Membership 413,219

Vehicles 16

Corporate Card American Express

Number 50

Total Annual Fee $1,750

Gas Card BP

Number 20

Public Employees

Retirement System

Portfolio $52 billion

Employees 545

Membership 797,232

Vehicles 12

Corporate Card MasterCard

Number 21

Total Annual Fee None

Gas Card Shell, BP, Sunoco

Number 60

Highway Patrol Retirement System

Portfolio $554 million

Employees 9

Membership 2,800

Vehicles None

Corporate Card Visa

Number 8

Total Annual Fee None

Gas Card None

Number None

School Employees

Retirement System

Portfolio $7.2 billion

Employees 164

Membership 180,000

Vehicles 5

Corporate Card American Express

and VISA

Number 9 and 3

Total Annual Fee $900

Gas Card BP

Number 8

Police and Firemen’s

Disablity and Pension Fund

Portfolio $7.8 billion

Employees 180 full time,

4 part time

Membership 52,000

Vehicles 1

Corporate Card American Express

Number 35

Total Annual Fee $1,750

Gas Card BP

Number 2

Sources: Ohio’s five public pension funds

— Paul E. Kostyu

STRS credit cards

The State Teachers Retirement System has issued 50 credit cards and 20 gasoline cards to staff and board members. The rules for the cards are:

Corporate Credit Card Eligibility

1. Take at least three trips per year, spend $500 yearly on local meals and-or make purchases to meet departmental business needs.

2. Satisfactory credit history

3. Annual review to determine continued necessity.

Use and Responsibility

1. Lodging, car rental, meals, organizations and business purchases, board uses and airline travel.

2. Personal use is prohibited and “will result in cancellation of card privileges.” Abuse will be noted in employee’s personnel file and made part of next annual review.

3. Annual fees are reimbursable.

4. Receipts required for expenditures over $15.

5. Reimbursement will occur within 48 hours of submitting approved expense report.

6. Monthly invoices are sent to employee’s home address.

7. Invoiced amount must be paid within 10 days.

8. Overdue accounts not paid within five days of notification could result in cancellation of credit card, payroll deduction for personal expenses and disciplinary action.

Source: State Teachers Retirement System

— Paul E. Kostyu

State Teachers Retirement System staff vehicles

The State Teachers Retirement System has 16 vehicles assigned to staff. Here are the vehicles, purchase prices and staffers they’re assigned to.

2002 Chrysler LHX Van: $24,833 Sandy Knoesel, deputy executive director, member benefits

2003 Chrysler LX Van: $34,277 member benefits counseling staff

2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser: $24,443 Herbert Dyer, executive director

2004 Chrysler 300M sedan: $30,132 Damon Asbury, deputy executive director, administration

2003 Dodge Caravan: $24,225 member benefits counseling staff

2003 Dodge Caravan: $23,950 member benefits counseling staff

2003 Dodge Caravan: $23,950 member benefits counseling staff

2001 Dodge Durango SLT: $33,650 Greg Taylor, director, information technology service

2002 Dodge Durango SLT: $34,535 Steve Mitchell, deputy executive director, investments

2001 Ford F-150 XLT Truck: $27,550 Greg Ruess, director, building services

1998 Plymouth Voyager van: $23,250 mail center staff

1999 Plymouth Voyager van: $23,825 Fred Williams, director of administrative services

2000 Plymouth Voyager van: $23,250 information technology service staff

2000 Plymouth Voyager van: $24,472 member benefits counseling staff

2000 Plymouth Voyager van: $23,862 member benefits counseling staff

2004 Pontiac Grand Prix: $27,897 Robert Slater, deputy executive director for finance

Source: State Teachers Retirement System

— Paul E. Kostyu

STRS FLASHBACK - 7 years ago - Thanks to Dr. Leone, no more $1,037 board dinners after a committee meeting, credit cards or system-furnished vehicles

STRS is tops in employee perks
By PAUL E. KOSTYU Copley Columbus Bureau chief
Canton Repository, July 31, 2003

COLUMBUS — Ohio has five public retirement funds. The State Teachers Retirement System is not the largest in investment portfolio, nor in members.

But it outstrips all others in the number of employees and the credit cards and cars they get.

The teachers system owns 16 vehicles, including two Dodge Durango SUVs costing about $34,000 each. Eight of the vehicles are assigned to executives. Five of those executives can drive them on personal trips. In fact, so can their families.

The system also pays the insurance on the fleet, which is valued at $428,101 and includes 10 vans, a truck, two sedans, a wagon and the Durangos.

Another expense for the state system is 50 American Express credit cards distributed to employees and board members, and 20 BP gas cards.

“They don’t need to exist in that magnitude,” said Rep. Michelle G. Schneider, R-Cincinnati, a critic of the system’s spending.

The teachers fund guidelines say that the vehicles assigned to Executive Director Herbert Dyer and his four deputies can be used “for both business and personal use,” though the latter is “considered as taxable income” to the employee and must be reported to the Internal Revenue Service and Ohio Department of Taxation.

Any family member with a driver’s license can use the vehicles as long as the employee is in it or, “is about to be picked up or has just been dropped off.”

In other words, an employee’s son can take the vehicle and his friends on a trip as long as he drops off dad or mom at work on the way.

No other pension fund has that policy. In fact, none of the directors of the state’s four other funds use a company car.

But the Ohio Police and Fireman’s Pension Fund, which employs 180 people, allows some personal spending on American Express cards it distributes.

Thirty-two employees and board members have the cards, at a cost of $50 each. The police fund also maintains three cards for its purchasing department, five corporate AT&T calling cards (though four are locked in a safe), and three corporate Sam’s Club cards. The fund has one vehicle, a 1999 Ford Windstar van, used to carry supplies and mail.

Laurie Hacking, executive director of the Public Employees Retirement System, the state’s largest in terms of members and portfolio, has no vehicle assigned to her. And none of that fund’s fleet of seven vans and five cars can be used for personal use.

Hacking said vehicles must be reserved in advance for pension fund-related trips. Gas credit cards are checked out with a vehicle and mileage must be recorded. Hacking uses her own car and submits mileage for reimbursement for fund-related trips. The fund, however, has 60 cards from three gas companies, a number Hacking said is high and “being looked at.”

As for credit cards, the Public Employees Retirement System issues MasterCards to 21 people. There is no annual fee. Hacking said the number of cards will be reduced because Bank One now will allow cards to be issued to departments instead of individuals.

“It will make cleaner record keeping,” said Hacking, who has no corporate card. “We don’t want as many cards out there.”

Richard Curtis, executive director of the Highway Patrol Retirement System, the state’s smallest, also uses his personal car for fund business. There are no gas credit cards.

“There is no practical value in having a (corporate) car,” said Curtis, who drives about 10 miles one way to work each day. “There is less expense and less overhead for maintenance and insurance.”

His pension fund distributes eight Visa credit cards obtained through the Highway Patrol Credit Union, which has no annual fee. One card is assigned to Curtis and each of the seven board members in their name with a tracking number.

Curtis said the card holders are billed individually for their purchases and are reimbursed if proper receipts are submitted.

The same policy is used at the teacher’s retirement system, according to Robert A. Slater, deputy executive director of finance.

But the teachers system has an exception: board members. The only board members without fund credit cards are the representatives of Attorney General Jim Petro and Auditor Betty Montgomery.

But Steven Puckett, who joined the board in January to represent Ohio Department of Education Superintendent Susan Tave Zelman, has one. He’s used it twice for a trip to Milwaukee to attend training seminars.

“So often using a personal card, the reimbursement lag time is extensive,” said J.C. Benton, a spokesman for Zelman. “He doesn’t travel anywhere else with it or take people out to lunch or dinner.”

The American Express cards are given to teachers fund employees “who travel frequently as part of their responsibilities or who make local purchases,” Slater said. The cards cannot be used for personal purchases. The monthly statements go to the employees’ home addresses.

Cards go to a range of employees including administrative assistants, portfolio managers, counselors and real estate buyers. Executive Director Herbert L. Dyer turned down an American Express card, though he has a BP card, said spokeswoman Laura Ecklar. Dyer’s executive assistant Eileen Boles has an American Express card.

Dyer uses his personal credit card and submits receipts for reimbursement.

Schneider said she was aghast at the number of STRS vehicles and credit cards.

“Every week there’s a new abuse,” she said. Letting “a whole family drive” an STRS car “is ludicrous. All of this going to have to change.”

Schneider owns and operates a skilled nursing facility and a home health-care agency with 350 employees. She said they use their own cars and credit cards for business trips.

“There is very little abuse, if any, if you do it that way,” she said.

Another critic, Sen. Kirk Schuring, R-Jackson Township, said it is not uncommon for business executives to have corporate cars and credit cards.

But “given the extravagant past behavior of (STRS), it’s important ... there’s not abuse of the perks,” he said.

You can reach Columbus Bureau Chief Paul E. Kostyu at (614) 222-8901 or e-mail:

paul.kostyu@cantonrep.com

Dyer OK’d board’s own $1,037 restaurant tab

One example of State Teachers Retirement system spending.

An expense report Executive Director Herbert L. Dyer submitted on March 18, 2002, for a 15-person meal at a Columbus restaurant showed a $1,037 bill for a “board dinner with deputies after committee meeting.”

Dyer signed the report twice — once as the person submitting the expense and a second time approving its payment.

Approving one’s own expenditures and its circumstances are items that probably would be reviewed in the course of an audit, said Eric Hardgrove, a spokesman for State Auditor Betty Montgomery.

The Dyer bill, minus a $165 tip, meant that each person spent an average of $58 for their meal. The receipt did not indicate whether alcohol was part of the tab.

Even though every agency is set up differently, Hardgrove said, there must be a system of checks and balances in handling expenses.

“All significant transactions need to be scrutinized,” he said.

— Paul E. Kostyu

Pension funds

Ohio has five public retirement pension funds. In terms of porfolios and membership, the Public Employees Retirement System is biggest. In terms of employees, staff credit cards and staff vehicles, the State Teachers Retirement System is the largest.

State Teachers Retirement System

Portfolio $47.2 billion

Employees 659 full time,

30 part time or interns

Membership 413,219

Vehicles 16

Corporate Card American Express

Number 50

Total Annual Fee $1,750

Gas Card BP

Number 20

Public Employees

Retirement System

Portfolio $52 billion

Employees 545

Membership 797,232

Vehicles 12

Corporate Card MasterCard

Number 21

Total Annual Fee None

Gas Card Shell, BP, Sunoco

Number 60

Highway Patrol Retirement System

Portfolio $554 million

Employees 9

Membership 2,800

Vehicles None

Corporate Card Visa

Number 8

Total Annual Fee None

Gas Card None

Number None

School Employees

Retirement System

Portfolio $7.2 billion

Employees 164

Membership 180,000

Vehicles 5

Corporate Card American Express

and VISA

Number 9 and 3

Total Annual Fee $900

Gas Card BP

Number 8

Police and Firemen’s

Disablity and Pension Fund

Portfolio $7.8 billion

Employees 180 full time,

4 part time

Membership 52,000

Vehicles 1

Corporate Card American Express

Number 35

Total Annual Fee $1,750

Gas Card BP

Number 2

Sources: Ohio’s five public pension funds

— Paul E. Kostyu

STRS credit cards

The State Teachers Retirement System has issued 50 credit cards and 20 gasoline cards to staff and board members. The rules for the cards are:

Corporate Credit Card Eligibility

1. Take at least three trips per year, spend $500 yearly on local meals and-or make purchases to meet departmental business needs.

2. Satisfactory credit history

3. Annual review to determine continued necessity.

Use and Responsibility

1. Lodging, car rental, meals, organizations and business purchases, board uses and airline travel.

2. Personal use is prohibited and “will result in cancellation of card privileges.” Abuse will be noted in employee’s personnel file and made part of next annual review.

3. Annual fees are reimbursable.

4. Receipts required for expenditures over $15.

5. Reimbursement will occur within 48 hours of submitting approved expense report.

6. Monthly invoices are sent to employee’s home address.

7. Invoiced amount must be paid within 10 days.

8. Overdue accounts not paid within five days of notification could result in cancellation of credit card, payroll deduction for personal expenses and disciplinary action.

Source: State Teachers Retirement System

— Paul E. Kostyu

State Teachers Retirement System staff vehicles

The State Teachers Retirement System has 16 vehicles assigned to staff. Here are the vehicles, purchase prices and staffers they’re assigned to.

2002 Chrysler LHX Van: $24,833 Sandy Knoesel, deputy executive director, member benefits

2003 Chrysler LX Van: $34,277 member benefits counseling staff

2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser: $24,443 Herbert Dyer, executive director

2004 Chrysler 300M sedan: $30,132 Damon Asbury, deputy executive director, administration

2003 Dodge Caravan: $24,225 member benefits counseling staff

2003 Dodge Caravan: $23,950 member benefits counseling staff

2003 Dodge Caravan: $23,950 member benefits counseling staff

2001 Dodge Durango SLT: $33,650 Greg Taylor, director, information technology service

2002 Dodge Durango SLT: $34,535 Steve Mitchell, deputy executive director, investments

2001 Ford F-150 XLT Truck: $27,550 Greg Ruess, director, building services

1998 Plymouth Voyager van: $23,250 mail center staff

1999 Plymouth Voyager van: $23,825 Fred Williams, director of administrative services

2000 Plymouth Voyager van: $23,250 information technology service staff

2000 Plymouth Voyager van: $24,472 member benefits counseling staff

2000 Plymouth Voyager van: $23,862 member benefits counseling staff

2004 Pontiac Grand Prix: $27,897 Robert Slater, deputy executive director for finance

Source: State Teachers Retirement System

— Paul E. Kostyu

From John Curry, July 29, 2010

A little history on what one STRS Board member accomplished during his term; how do Arthur Lard's accomplishments stack up next to these?

From John Curry

April 5, 2023

So...what did Dr. Leone do to clean up STRS almost two decades ago despite being fought "tooth and nail" by the OEA every step of the way? Here is a "little" list of his reforms as a REFORM Board member from 2005-2009.

Dennis Leone's Accomplishments as an STRS Board Member

1. Bonus plan for fiscal year 2010: Motion made by Dennis Leone prohibits bonuses if overall return is negative. Plan restricts bonuses unless total STRS assets return to $65 billion. For every $1 billion our total assets fall short of $65 billion at the end of FY 2010, bonuses will be reduced by 3%.

2. Motion made by Leone prohibits bonuses beyond FY 2010 in years in which total returns are negative.

3. Motion made by Leone and passed on Oct. 20th, 2006 requires the STRS staff to provide a summary of all proposed contracts for services provided directly to the Board and for any propose contract in excess of $100,000.

4. Motions made by Leone resulted in changes to the Board's travel and expenditure policies:

1. No reimbursements for meals unless itemized receipts are provided.

2. Airplane tickets must be purchased 30 days in advance, and Board members who choose not to do this will pay the difference in cost between the two tickets. Board members - not STRS - will personally pay for any additional fees charged by the airline if ticket reservations are changed for personal reasons.

3. The previously adopted $6,000 maximum for individual Board members to spend on out-of-state trips per year did not include the conference fee for registration or tuition. Now it does.

4. Meal reimbursements are now limited to $10.00 for breakfast, $15.00 for lunch, and $25.00 for dinner.

5. No overnight lodging will be provided by STRS on the day that Board meetings end or the day after conferences conclude.

6. Board members will not be reimbursed for expenses while attending in-state meetings unless they are a formally invited speaker or an official participant at the meeting or unless the Board votes to approve attendance in advance.

7. STRS funds will not be used every again to purchase credit cards, fax machines, fax lines, or laptop computers for Board members. Also Board members cannot expect STRS to pay for their personal long distance phone calls when they are attending meetings.

5. Proposed and received Bd. support for formally recognizing the deceased Paul Boyer, a CORE founding member and vigilant retiree supporter, in Dec. of 2008.

6. Leone was responsible for 52 credit cards and 39 gas cards held by STRS staff and Board members being turned in.

7. Leone was responsible for all but a couple of cars, vans, and SUVs purchased by STRS to be sold.

8. Leone was responsible for canceling the policy permitting staff to use STRS cars for personal use.

9. Shortly after joining the STRS Bd., Leone’s motions resulted in the STRS staff being reduced by 100 employees and and the administrative budget being cut.

10. New policies introduced by Leone prohibited the use of pension money for things like alcohol, parties, movie rentals, concerts, baseball games, Kings Island trips as well as lodging, airfare, and gifts for out-of-town STRS visitors.

11. The cost to run the STRS child care center was reduced from $500,000 per year to $100,000 per year and finally at present, the center is cost neutral.

12. Cafeteria services in the STRS building are now cost neutral.

13. Fees for staff to use the STRS fitness center were increased.

14. Bonus checks for non-investment staff (affecting over 300 employees) have been eliminated.

15. NEA paid back STRS the $39,251 that the Perry Local School District received from STRS for the substitute teacher costs for Michael Billirakis when he was attending STRS Board meetings.

16. As a result of pressure from Dr. Leone, 105 legislators called for STRS Executive Director Herb Dyer to resign (which he did) to avoid being terminated.

17. Senate Bill 133, signed by the governor on June 16, 2004, put in place a number of oversight regulations. It also requires ethics training and travel policies for all STRS Board members.

18. Senate Bill 133 added another retiree to the STRS Board, removed State Auditor Betty Montgomery and State Attorney General Jim Petro, and added three investment specialists (thereby stripping OEA of its majority control of the STRS Board.)

19. Senate Bill 133 stipulated that the “big spender” STRS Board members from 2000, 2001, and 2002 (using Dennis Leone’s language) “those who spent in excess of $10,000 per year of pension money on trips around the country may never again run for the STRS Board or serve as an appointee to the STRS Board.” This affected prior STRS Board members Jack Chapman, Eugene Norris, Hazel Sidaway, Gloria Gaylord, and Debbie Scott.

20. Senate Bill 133 contains a disciplinary procedure that authorizes the State Attorney General (in the event that STRS Board members improperly spend pension money in the future) to seek restitution, to pursue civil charges against STRS Board members, and cause their removal from the STRS Board.

21. Leone made a motion to eliminate the Severance Policy (which had never been approved by a STRS Board) and therefore prohibit the STRS Executive Director from giving cash and free health insurance to STRS staff laid off in the future. His motion was rejected 7 to 3.

22. Motion made by Leone to remove STRS Investment Chief Steve Mitchell from PBI (Performance-Based Incentive) Plan died from a lack of a second. Dr. Leone cited conflict of interest concerns since Mitchell evaluates other bonus recipients.

23. Motion made by Leone to deny FY 2009 bonuses to Investment staff died due to a lack of a second.

24. Leone presented two motions which were tabled after STRS Executive Director Nehf said he would cause them to happen administratively. They were;

1. The development of a mechanism to enable the STRS Board and staff to deviate from its passive stock policy when certain stocks go significantly south due to abnormal external circumstances like fraud. (Example: The Board practice which triggered automatic purchasing of 92,500 shares of Fannie Mae stock just before the company collapsed and was taken over by the federal government. STRS lost millions.)

2. Communicating the STRS Board’s objection to companies that use federal bailout dollars on things like bonus checks. expensive retreats, hunting trips, multi-million dollar CEO contracts, and multi-million dollar severance payouts. (STRS has spent millions purchasing stock in certain companies that have lost public confidence and stockholder confidence due to their fiscal mismanagement.

25. Dr. Leone received the Ohio Senate’s Outstanding Educators Service Award in 1999.

26. Dr. Leone received the First Amendment Award in 2004 from the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists for uncovering the inappropriate spending practices at STRS.

27. Dennis Leone was the only superintendent to receive an award in 2002 from the Ohio Association of Public School Employees for collaborative labor/management relations.

28. The following represent a number of spending abuses discovered by Dr. Leone that occurred at STRS since 1995. Dr. Leone wrote the report that summarized the spending abuses (hundreds of millions of dollars) of our pension money by the STRS Board and staff. The abuses occurred even though assets at STRS dropped $12 billion, retirees lost their 13th check, health insurance premiums for retirees significantly increased, active members of STRS saw their STRS contribution rate increased from 9.3% to 10.0%, and school districts were implementing budget reduction plans to make ends meet. STRS expenditures included: 

1. $94.2 million on the new STRS headquarters.

2. $869,235 on artwork, sculptures, and polished stones for the new STRS bldg.

3. $818,000 on a child care services center for the children of STRS employees.

4. $500,000 per year to run the child care service center.

5. $426,000 on a fitness center in the STRS bldg.

6. $88,397 per year to provide food services for STRS employees.

7. $428,056 on 16 cars, vans, and SUVs.

8. STRS Board policy that permitted staff members to drive STRS vehicles for personal use, and the family members of said employees to drive said vehicles.

9. 52 American Express credit cards and 20 BP gas cards used by Board members and STRS staff members.

10. Staff members and Board members attending conferences used STRS credit cards to purchase alcohol.

11. $18,810 was spent on a “Discovery Park” gala event which included the purchase of Instamatic cameras for attendees.

12. $15,100 was spent on the new STRS building dedication which included alcohol and gifts for attendees, as well as air fare and lodging for out-of-town STRS visitors.

13. $4,100 was spent on a private retirement party for a STRS Board member.

14. $5,594 was spent on poinsettias to decorate STRS during the holiday season in 2002.

15. $1,000 was spent on dinners and alcohol for 12 STRS Board members/staff members on two occasions.

16. $7,116 was spent to purchase baseball tickets, concert tickets, movie rentals, and Kings Island tickets for STRS employees in the summer of 2003 for “team building”.

17. $530,284 was spent by the STRS Board on trips and meetings around the country in 2000, 2001, and 2002.

18. Multiple trips were taken by STRS Board members and staff to places like Honolulu, Palm Springs, Kiawah Island, and Anchorage. A planned trip to China in 1995 was canceled after it was suggested that it would have the appearance of junketeering.

19. Frequent occurrences of at least 6 STRS Board members going to the same meeting, sometimes twice a year, costing STRS over $9,000. each year.

20. $36,736 was spent by STRS Board member Jack Chapman in a single year for trips all over the country.

21. $1,017 was spent for an airplane ticket for a STRS Board member that would have cost $258. if it had been purchased 30 days in advance of the conference.

22. $1 million was paid per year to full-time STRS employees for 18 days of unused staff vacation days and unused sick leave.

23. Administrative expenses at STRS increased 17.4% per year between 1996 and 2002.

24. STRS employees increased from 414 to 725 between 1996 and 2002.

25. A total of 1,035 employee bonus checks were issued to STRS staff in 2000, 2001, and 2002.

26. $24.4 million was awarded in bonus checks to employees between 1998 and 2003.

27. $3.2 million was paid by STRS to PERS because of bonuses alone since 1998 to satisfy that pension system’s 13.31% annual employee contribution requirement. (STRS employees are members of PERS).

28. 34 STRS employees in 2002 received bonus checks in excess of $40,000 (with 18 of those getting bonuses in excess of $70,000).

29. One STRS employee received bonus checks of $110,000 and $68,000 in 2001 on top of his base salary of $164,000.

30. Over 150 STRS employees had base salaries over $100,000 in 2002, with 32 of those making over $155,000 -- topping the salaries of both the governor and the chief justice of the State Supreme Court.

31. A total of $39,251 was paid to the Perry Local School District by STRS in 2002 and 2003 for substitute teacher costs for STRS Board member Michael Billirakis (when he attended STRS meetings) even though he did not have a position in the school district. NEA paid Perry Local the dollar amount associated with the salary and the benefits for Billirakis, enabling him to be listed as an employee.

32. Excess STRS furniture was sold to STRS employees in 2000 and 2001 for $27,703, and instead of this amount going back into the pension fund, it was given to charities.

33. The regular work week for STRS employees was 37 1/2 hours.

34. If an STRS employee adopted a child, the STRS Board awarded a $5,000 cash gift to said employee.

35. Between 1999 and 2004, the STRS Board paid out $2.1 million in educational stipends for STRS employees to take college courses. This amount was double what the other 4 public pension systems in Ohio paid out, COMBINED, over the same time period. STRS paid up to $7,000 per year (per employee) for undergraduate or graduate work.

Flashback: 2005 campaign flyer for Dennis Leone

IF YOU VALUE YOUR PENSION AND HEALTHCARE, 

VOTE FOR DENNIS LEONE

Dr. Dennis Leone is a thirty year educator and administrator who retired in 2004.  He is the recipient of the First Amendment Award, received in 2004 from the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists, for uncovering in 2003 the inappropriate spending practices at STRS (State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio). 

• He received the Ohio Senate’s Outstanding Educational Service Award in 1999.
• He was the only superintendent to receive an award in 2002 from the Ohio Association of Public School Employees for collaborative labor/management relations.
• Dennis Leone, along with John Lazares, was solely responsible for the exposure of the waste and mismanagement at STRS Ohio.  He has worked with retirees to effect change at STRS Ohio.

Ohio’s retired educators need Dennis Leone to represent them on the STRS Board:

• He addresses the monthly STRS Ohio Board meetings with the concerns of retired educators.
• He is constantly fighting behind the scenes for retired educator causes.
• He testified on the proposed pension legislation and lobbied for changes in Senate Bill 133.
• He travels extensively in Ohio, speaking to active and retired teacher associations concerning the problems at STRS Ohio.
• He has met face-to-face with the Auditor of State concerning the spending practices at STRS Ohio.
• He has addressed the ORSC (Ohio Retirement Studies Council, which oversees Ohio’s five pension funds)
• Since his landmark paper of May, 2003 which uncovered the misconduct at STRS, he has been tirelessly working for retired educators at his own expense.
• Dr. Leone’s efforts have saved Ohio’s educators millions of dollars.
• No one else has earned the right to represent Ohio’s retired educators more than Dr. Dennis Leone.  This is why CORE encourages you to vote when you receive your ballot in April for Dr. Leone for retired educator seat on the STRS Ohio Board.

Facts Regarding Spending Abuses at STRS Since 1995

The following represent a number of spending abuses discovered by Dennis Leone that occurred at STRS since 1995.  The abuses occurred even though assets at STRS dropped $12 billion, retirees lost their 13th check, health insurance premiums for retirees significantly increased, active members of STRS saw their STRS contribution rate increased from 9.3% to 10.0%, and school districts were implementing budget reduction plans to make ends meet.  STRS expenditures included:

 1.  $94.2 million on the new STRS headquarters.

 2.  $869,235 on artwork, sculptures and polished stones for the new STRS building.

 3.  $818,000 on a child care services center for the children of STRS employees.

 4.  $500,000 per year to run the child care services center.

 5.  $426,000 on a fitness center in the STRS building.

 6.  $88,397 per year to provide food services for STRS employees.

 7.  $428,056 on 16 cars, vans, and SUV's.

 8.  STRS Board policy that permitted staff members to drive STRS vehicles for personal use, and the family members of said employees to drive said vehicles.

 9.  52 American Express Credit Cards and 20 BP gas cards used by Board members and STRS staff members.

10.  Alcohol purchases incurred by staff members and Board members attending conferences -- using STRS credit cards.

11.  $18,810 on "Discovery Park" gala event, including the purchase of Instamatic cameras for attendees.

12.  $15,100 on new STRS building dedication, including alcohol and gifts for attendees, as well as airfare and lodging for out-of-town STRS visitors.

13.  $4,100 on a private retirement party for an STRS Board member.

14.  $5,594 on poinsettias to decorate STRS during the holiday season in 2002.

15.  $1,000 dinners for 12 board members/staff members on 2 occasions, again with alcohol.

16.  $7,116 for baseball tickets, concert tickets, movie rentals, and Kings Island tickets for STRS employees in the summer of 2003 for "team building."

17.  $530,284 spent by Board on trips and meetings around the country in 2000, 2001, and 2002.

18.  Multiple trips taken by Board members and staff to places like Honolulu, Palm Springs, Kiawah Island, and Anchorage.  A planned trip to China in 1995 was cancelled after it was suggested that it would have the appearance of junketeering.  

19.  Frequent occurrences of at least 6 Board members going to the same meeting, sometimes twice a year, costing STRS over $9,000 each year.

20.  $36,736 spent by a Board member Jack Chapman in a single year for trips all over the country.

21.  $1,017 airplane ticket for a Board member that would have cost $258 if it had been purchased 30 days in advance of the conference.

22.  $1 million cash payback per year to full-time STRS employees for 18 days of unused staff vacation days and unused sick leave.

23.  Total administrative expenses at STRS increased 17.4% per year between 1996 and 2002.

24.  Total STRS employees increased from 414 to 725 between 1996 and 2002.

25.  A total of 1,035 employee bonus checks were issued to STRS staff in 2000, 2001 and 2002.

26.  $24.4 million was awarded in bonus checks to employees between 1998 and 2003.

27.  $3.2 million had to be paid by STRS to PERS because of bonuses alone since 1998 to satisfy that pension system's 13.31% annual employee contribution requirement.  STRS employees are members of PERS.

28.  34 STRS employees in 2002 received bonus checks in excess of $40,000 (with 18 of those getting bonuses in excess of $70,000).

29.  One STRS employee received bonus checks of $110,000 and $68,800 in 2001 on top his base salary of $164,000.

30.  Over 150 STRS employees had base salaries over $100,000 in 2002, with 32 of those making over $155,000 -- topping the salaries of both the governor and the chief justice of the State Supreme Court.

31.  A total of $39,251 was paid to the Perry Local School District by STRS in 2002 and 2003 for sub teacher costs for Board member Michael Billirakis (when he attended STRS meetings), even though he did not have a position in the school district.  NEA pays Perry Local the dollar amount associated with the salary and benefits for Billirakis, enabling him to be listed as an employee.

32.  Excess STRS furniture was sold to STRS employees in 2000 and 2001 for $27,703, and instead of this amount going back into the pension fund, it was given to charities.

33.  The regular work week for STRS employees is 37 1/2 hours.

34.  If an STRS employee adopts a child, the STRS Board awards a $5,000 cash gift to said employee.

35.  Between 1999 and 2004, the STRS Board paid out $2.1 million in educational stipends for STRS employees to take college courses.  This amount was double what the other 4 public pension systems in Ohio paid out, combined, over the same time period.  STRS pays up to $7,000 per year (per employee) for undergraduate or graduate work.

Changes at STRS Since Leone's Report on May 16, 2003

On May 16, 2003, Dennis Leone presented a 13-page position paper that summarized recent spending abuses by the STRS Board.  The report made numerous recommendations for the Board to change its spending practices and to do a better job of representing its membership.  The following changes have occurred since May 16, 2003:

 1.  The 52 credit cards and 39 gas cards held by staff and board members have been turned in.

 2.  All but a couple of the 16 cars, vans and SUV's purchased by STRS have been sold.

 3.  The policy that permitted staff to use STRS cars for personal use has been dropped.

 4.  The STRS staff has been reduced by 100 employees and the administrative budget has been cut.

 5.  New policies prohibit the use of pension money for things like alcohol, parties, movie rentals, Kings Island, concerts, and baseball games, or for airfare, lodging, and gifts for out-of-town STRS visitors.

 6.  New policies require plane tickets to be purchased at least 30 days in advance in order to receive the cheapest rates.

 7.  New policies restrict how many professional meetings Board members can attend yearly, the number of Board members who can attend said professional meetings, and how much can be spent at said meetings.

 8.  The cost to run the STRS child care services center has been reduced from $500,000 per year to $100,000 per year.  It is still promised to be cost neutral.

 9.  Cafeteria services in the STRS headquarters are now cost neutral.

10.  Fees to use the STRS fitness center have been increased.

11.  Bonus checks for non-investment staff have been eliminated -- affecting over 300 employees -- and bonus checks for investment staff will occur only if said employees earn money for STRS.

12.  NEA paid back STRS the $39,251 that the Perry Local School District received from STRS for sub teacher costs for Michael Billirakis when he was attending STRS meetings.

13.  STRS Executive Director Herb Dyer resigned to avoid being terminated, after 105 legislators called for his resignation.

14.  Senate Bill 133, signed by the governor on June 16, 2004, put in place a number of oversight regulations.  It also requires ethics training and travel policies for all Board members.

15.  Senate Bill 133 added another retiree to the Board, removed State Auditor Betty Montgomery and State Attorney General Jim Petro, and added three investment specialists -- thereby stripping OEA of its majority control of the STRS Board.

16.  Senate Bill 133 stipulates that the "big spender" Board members from 2000, 2001 and 2002 -- those who spent in excess of $10,000 per year of pension money on trips around the country -- may never again run for the Board or serve as an appointee to the Board.  This affects Jack Chapman, Eugene Norris, Hazel Sidaway, Gloria Gaylord, and Debbie Scott.  It deserves noting that Eugene Norris, a former OEA officer and Board president in 2004, was defeated in his re-election attempt immediately before Senate Bill 133 went into effect, by John Lazares -- Warren County ESC Superintendent.

17.  Senate Bill 133 contains a disciplinary procedure that will authorize the State Attorney General -- in the event that Board members improperly spend pension money in the future -- to seek restitution, pursue civil charges against Board members, and cause their removal from the Board. 

Bottom Line

 1. It was Dennis Leone who wrote the report two years ago that summarized the spending abuses (hundreds of millions) of OUR pension money by the STRS Board and staff.  The theme of his 13-page report was that the Board needed to change its spending practices immediately and do a better job of representing its members.

2.  You will not see Dennis Leone’s name on any endorsement list by either OEA or ORTA, because OEA and ORTA don't plan on telling their membership who the 5 candidates are and what their credentials are.

3.  When Dennis Leone issued his report on STRS two years ago, the LAST thing he expected was the initial reaction he got from both OEA and ORTA afterwards......OEA wrote a statewide memo that said his findings were inaccurate and "misrepresentations," while ORTA initially try to ignore his report.  It was not until thousands of actives and retirees statewide became outraged over the truth that both OEA and ORTA then said:  "Of course we are concerned about the spending practices at STRS."  His 13-page report stepped on some toes at OEA and ORTA.  (OEA had 5 former officers sitting on the STRS Board, and also caused many retirees to ask ORTA why they had not first discovered what Dennis Leone found.)

4.  To quote Dr. Leone: “I believe an STRS Board member needs to be an uncompromising guardian and caretaker of OUR pension money.”  Ohio law REQUIRES all decisions of the Board to be for us and our beneficiaries.........and this has not happened in the past!!

Questions to Consider

Candidates Leone and Speas have been very active over the past two years, pushing for constructive changes at STRS, addressing the Board, writing the Board, testifying on pension reform legislation and working with legislators on Senate Bill 133.  Have the other three candidates (Green, Chapman and Johnson) done this?  How many times have they addressed the STRS Board?"  (As of March 2005, Dennis Leone has addressed the STRS Board in 20 out of 24 meetings, missing only when absolutely necessary.)

Why isn't ORTA sending out a summary of the credentials of all five retiree candidates?  Is it because ORTA doesn’t want us to make up our own minds?  Is it true that ORTA is sending out a flyer soon to all 110,000 retirees that will not include the credentials of Leone, Green, and Chapman (all of whom are ORTA members)? 

Parting Thoughts

In 2002, STRS told you they didn't have enough money for your 13th check -- right?  But they sure had enough money for parties, alcohol, trips to Honolulu, big bonus checks for staff, and child care services!!

 Once we get him elected, Dennis Leone will be an ADAMANT voice on the STRS Board that will say “THIS CAN NEVER, NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN!!!”