Record of Testimony

To Whom It May Concern,

Correct me if I am wrong but any surplus in the state of Rhode Island budget was suppose to fully fund the pension plan. If that's correct why has this not fully funded the pension plan? How many years of surplus budgets have been sent to the pension plan?

I accepted my first position in a RI public school in 1999 and made the decision to pursue a career in public education rather than the private sector (I am a psychologist), based in part on the benefits promised to me.

June 30th 2012, longevity was stopped. At least for those working that long. I reached 25 years the end of August, 2012 and I feel those folks should have been grandfathered in. It certainly made a difference in my pension.

Submitted via online webform

The loss of the COLA has a a dramatic effect on our family. I retired in 2004 with the hope that cola’s would add to my income as the cost of living increases. I am hopefully optimistic that it will be reinstated soon. Thank you for all your hard work.

Hello- I began my career with the State of Rhode Island in 1987, what I signed up for back then is no longer in existence.

I was hired in 2000, was promised a certian pension after 10 yrs. That's when you get vested. You should have changed it for new hirires. I had a 20 year plan when I got hired, I'm on 4yrs overtime have to do another 5yrs to get the same money I would have got after 20 yrs.

Enclosed please find a list of Points to Consider to support the restoration of the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for the group previously referenced.

Good Afternoon,

Thank you for the opportunity to explain how the PENSION debacle of 2011 affected US! Two Cranston teachers who taught 32 and 33 years and were told when we retired what our pension and our COLA was going to be!