Record of Testimony

As a retired firefighter in the RI state pension system, I submit that the method for determining annual COLA's is far too modest and continues to erode our ability to keep pace with inflation. Especially since my jurisdiction did not allow us to participate in social security. Thank you.

Greetings. I am approaching the end of my first year of retirement from state service. Prior to retiring, I understood that I would be receiving a pension, and assumed it would be in the form of fixed income.

Pension Testimony

My name is Mark Sullivan I did not work the state of R.I. I worked for the City of East Providence for thirty years.

I have been negatively by the pension reform. I originally taught for 4 1/2 years in a private school. I stayed home with my children for 11 years. Then I subbed in public schools for several years. Soon after being hired in a public school in 2000, I purchased five years in the pension system.

My name is Susan Lusignan and I have worked for the City of East Providence since I was 16 years old. After a semester in college, I decided I needed to earn money and left to pursue employment.

I feel our Colas should be returned to us. We entered into a contract with the State of RI when we retired and it included our COLA’s. It is shameful that this was done to so many dedicated employees that thought what the State had agreed was theirs, then taken away. No way is that legal.

The changes made by the “Rhode Island Retirement Security Act of 2011” are unjust for many reasons. Chief among them is that many workers like myself took lower pay for future promised benefits that are now greatly diminished.

I feel I was wronged I will have 30 years of service with the city of East providence when I will be 52 years old and I will have to work another 11 years after that to avoid major penalties. With Costs. The pension reform happened when I had 13 years in and was already vested for 3 years.

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.