Dolores Bresette

My name is Dolores Bresette, and I worked for the state of Rhode Island for 37 years, which is more than half my life. I retired from RI College, where I was an Information Aide. Throughout my career, I paid almost 9% of my biweekly paycheck into the pension system, hoping to secure a comfortable retirement for myself and my family.



After confirming that my monthly pension check and cost of living adjustments (COLAs) could meet my family's needs, I decided to retire. However, the 2011 pension legislation, which suspended COLAs, had an unexpected and devastating impact on my retirement income. I thought I had lost $70 per month then, but by 2023, the monthly deficit is now greater.



Since then, living costs have increased significantly, while my pension benefits remain stagnant. As a retiree on a fixed income, inflation has eaten into my purchasing power, creating extra stress on my household budget. My late husband and I had carefully planned for our golden years, hoping to help our grandchildren attend college, but the COLA suspension forced us to re-evaluate our plans.



I re-entered the workforce. At first, I worked to stay active, but now, my part-time income helps supplement my pension and Social Security benefits.



Since 2005, our retirement security has been slowly eroded by the State. Many retirees like me, who faithfully served the State, struggle to keep up with the rising costs of heating our homes, putting gas in our cars, paying for auto and home insurance, and having enough to pay for food and groceries. The 2011 pension reform was the ultimate insult. It was a blow that took money out of our pockets and broke the promise made to us when we started our careers. That’s why many retirees feel frustrated and betrayed. However, I am optimistic and trust the Pension Advisory Working Group will consider the importance of reinstating annual COLAs and that our elected leadership will follow through on the recommendation.



Thank you for hearing my story.



Dolores Bresette

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