Record of Testimony

The change to the Teachers Pension Plan certainly had a negative effect on both my husband, Howard, and myself. After my working for 34 years and my husband 30 working for the Town of Lincoln, we both are struggling with no COLA.

I would like to remind the PAWC that the General Assembly charged them with determining the “unintended consequences of the 2011 Pension Reform Act.

Suggest that the state of RI should not be taxing our Pensions!  We have already paid taxes on our money!

Submitted via email

I am single. I depend on my pension to survive. I have less money to enjoy my retirement my insurance is astronomical. My standard of living has been reduced drastically I am fearful of what my future holds. Please 🙏 I need some financial relief.

I have been blessed to be an employee for the State of Rhode Island at the Department of Environmental Management. I feel I have served the citizens of this state effectively and honestly.

Just one topic I would like to bring up and that is a cost of living increase that would be fair to all.

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.