Record of Testimony

I worked for the State of Rhode supporting individuals with developmental disabilities for 32 years 4 months. I was planning on staying for 35 years, but with the changes that were being implemented I thought hard and felt it best to leave. That was 2008.

I retired with the promise of receiving cost of living increases. Shortly after I retired, they were taken away. I’m finding that as years go by it is getting more difficult to keep up!

When the COLA was taken away I felt that I might, in some way assist the State in balancing the budget. After over ten years of doing without my C0LA I have come to the realization that the State of Rhode Island will never become fiscally responsible.

I am Russ Marsocci and I'm the Municipal Vice President of AFSCME RI Chapter 94 Retirees.

Good afternoon. I am a Charlestown Police Officer and have been employed by the Town of Charlestown since July 1st, 1999. The new pension laws added 7 years to my minimum retirement obligations because of my age when I was hired.

I can't imagine what I will need to do to survive on 32000 per year in retirement I started paying into the system when a lower wage was offset by the promise of a livable percent of that salary in retirement.

I have been working in the school system for 20 years, and as I approach retirement age I am concerned about the lack of benefits I am going to receive. The first 10 years of my career I was promised a much greater percentage, and earlier retirement.

Honorable James Diossa, State Treasurer

And the Pension Advisory working Group

State House, Room 102

Providence, RI 02903

I started working with the city of East providence in 1997 with the plan of retiring in 30 years . I would ask the board to respectively implement that again for people that were already invested in pension system when changes were made . Thank you .

I should have been able to retire 4 years ago. Now I must go another 3 years. When I first started, my goal was to retire early and watch my grandchildren, that opportunity is passing me by. After 34 years of teaching, I should be allowed to enjoy the retirement I was promised.