David Neves

It is imperative that this Advisory Working Group spend substantial time finding ways to properly relieve the many retirees who are financially hurting greatly due to the COLAs being suspended for them now since 2011. Personally, when I retried from RI in 2005 I did so with the full expectation that the contracted COLA in effect would ensure that I would have enough of a pension to maintain a solid middle class lifestyle for myself and my wife, without needing to take on a host of other employment. As it stands, though I would love to fully retire, I am forced to continue in added part time employment to make up for the substantial shortfall from my stolen COLAs, especially challenging due to inflation. As I get older, it is harder and harder to maintain those added part time positions. The situation is even more dire for those older then me. First priority must be for those who retired prior to 2011 whose COLAs were likely and frankly immorally taken away after the fact, if not illegally so....... Something substantial must be done. NOW..... In addition to this class of folks, restoring regular COLAs for those currently employed must also become a priority in the ensuing years as it will help make teaching once again a profession that people will see as financially sound to invest their lives in. The teaching shortage is real and dire, and the lack of decent retirement benefits is truly making it worse.

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