Record of Testimony

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.

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.

I am a former RI teacher who taught 30years. I loved teaching but if I were starting today I would apply in CT or MA not RI. When I started I signed a contract that promised me a pension that included a cola. I was not allowed to pay into Social Security.

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.