News Release
For Information:
Darren Allen
802.223.6375 (office)
802.839.8618 (cell)
December 29, 2009
MONTPELIER – Vermont-NEA on Tuesday released a report that outlines the approach lawmakers should take in devising ways to address the state’s short-term budget problems without destroying its six-decades-old teachers’ pension system.
The report, called “Vermont’s Public Pensions: Keeping the Promise,” stands in contradiction to the pending recommendations from the Commission on the Design and Funding of Retirement and Retiree Health Benefit Plans for State Employees and Teachers. It offers a blueprint for a solution that the union is formulating, one that will achieve savings to the taxpayers of Vermont and address the issues of falling student enrollment and education costs in general while strengthening the public pensions.
“The retirement commission will be making its recommendations soon, and while the details aren’t final, we do know their proposals will ask teachers and state employees to work longer, pay more and get less,” said Vermont-NEA President Martha Allen, a 30-year veteran of Vermont’s classrooms. “The commission did not look at retirement as part of a whole – and how changes will affect teachers, schools, other parts of the state’s budget or even if some of those changes are consistent with the Constitution.”
One of the members of that commission, Rep. Terry Macaig, D-Williston, endorsed Vermont-NEA’s approach and explained why he does not believe the retirement commission’s recommendations are good for teachers, Vermont ’s budget or seniors.
“In my mind, the ability to recruit, retain and reward teachers or state employees is not going to happen with the recommendations the commission is going forward with. We are decimating an adequate and sound retirement system,” Macaig said.
The union is engaged in substantive conversations with legislative leaders, and is working with national pension and budget experts as it crafts its approach to help balance the short-term budget shortfall facing the state without costing taxpayers more and decimating a sound public pension.
The complete report is attached for your convenience, and you can also read it at www.vtnea.org.
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