After meeting with PERA Executive Director Doug Anderson he has emailed me a second PERA proposal.
This still has to go to the PERA Board but I believe Mr. Anderson heard what was said and has come up with a very reasonable responsible second proposal.
Here it is:
Proposal 1: Change to 100% of CPI, 1% floor, 1.5% cap.
Proposal 2:
*Change current COLA to 100% of CPI, 1% floor, 2.5% cap (currently a fixed 2.5%).
* Maintain the current “trigger off”, which is that the 2.5% cap turns off when funding is <
80% once or < 85% for two consecutive years.
*If/when the “trigger off” occurs, the benefit goes to 100% CPI, 1% floor, 1.5% cap.
*Eliminate any future “trigger on”. If the plan triggers off, it could never trigger back on. The
benefit would remain 100% CPI, 1% floor, 1.5% cap.
In other words if CPI (inflation) is at least 2.5% or more we are guaranteed the 2.5% COLA. Depending on inflation we are guaranteed at least 1% but can go higher than the earlier proposed 1.5%.
I wish it were left alone, but the writing is on the wall for the legislature to eliminate triggers. The O'Driscoll/Rosen Bill wants to cap us at 1.5%,. The PERA proposal 2 would allow us to go up to our current 2.5% recognizing the health of our plan.
If we drop below the trigger we will join ranks with the other plans. I am a fiscal conservative and believe that is fair. If our plan is doing well we reap the benefit, if it gets weak we tighten the COLA belt. At the end of the day we want a healthy pension.
I again express my gratitude to PERA Executive Director Doug Anderson for taking time to listen to MNPEA Vice President Tom Perkins and myself.
This is not a MNPEA response, the MNPEA Board will meet and respond on their own.
As an interesting aside. We also learned at that meeting that LELS also met with PERA and was on-board with cutting the COLA to 1.5% of their CO's!
Remember, the legislature makes the laws that govern our pensions. PERA executes those laws. There is no guarantee the legislature will follow their recommendation. But if it comes to a fight at the Capital it's another arrow in the quiver.
To be clear, I prefer no change to our current Pension, as it is doing well. IF, they are are going to eliminate the triggers, I prefer the second proposal of the 2.5% COLA to the 1.5% cap.
THIS IS AN OFFICIAL NEWS SITE FOR CURRENT AND RETIRED CORRECTIONS OFFICERS! This blog will keep up on current events affecting Detention Deputies and Corrections Officers. SINCE 2006!
Monday, December 25, 2017
Tuesday, December 19, 2017
PERA meeting and recommendation
Today MNPEA Vice President Tom Perkins and I met with PERA Executive Director Doug Anderson and Shayna (?).
They very graciously gave us an hour and a half. We all have the same goal of keeping our pension healthy. They have tremendous pressure to move the plans to 100% funding, a goal I agree with.
There is a proposal to lower the actuarial tables from 8% to 7.5%. If passed, this changes the amount considered fully funded. Under current law it's 8% and our payouts are based on that.
If the actuarial is lowered to 7.5% the proposal is to eliminate the triggers (read previous posts) and go to an across the board COLA formula. An annual COLA of 1% (as a floor) with a max COLA of 1.5% based on inflation (CPI).
In effect this cuts the PERA Correctional COLA a full 1% and the other, not as well funded plans only .5% and *maintains 1% with no cut to the Police and Fire COLA even though they require $9,000,000 a year just to keep current funding.
This all leads to an assumed funding for the PERA General Plan and Police and Fire to be at 110% in 2047.
Ok, but the PERA Correctional Plan would be funded at 120% in 2047. With "shared sacrifice" we sacrifice more. It reminds me of the book Animal Farm. "All animals are created equal. But some are more equal than others."
PERA does not make law, but are frequently asked for recommendations. These recommendations mirror the O'Driscoll and Rosen Bill.
They gave us this meeting because as stakeholders, MNPEA and retirees of MNPEA, had no input into what they will propose. Now we have, again thank you Doug Anderson.
The hope is when they meet in January they will recommend, like last year, no change to the PERA Correctional Plan.
*Post corrected 12/22/17 I originally posted P&F would get a .5% COLA.
They very graciously gave us an hour and a half. We all have the same goal of keeping our pension healthy. They have tremendous pressure to move the plans to 100% funding, a goal I agree with.
There is a proposal to lower the actuarial tables from 8% to 7.5%. If passed, this changes the amount considered fully funded. Under current law it's 8% and our payouts are based on that.
If the actuarial is lowered to 7.5% the proposal is to eliminate the triggers (read previous posts) and go to an across the board COLA formula. An annual COLA of 1% (as a floor) with a max COLA of 1.5% based on inflation (CPI).
In effect this cuts the PERA Correctional COLA a full 1% and the other, not as well funded plans only .5% and *maintains 1% with no cut to the Police and Fire COLA even though they require $9,000,000 a year just to keep current funding.
This all leads to an assumed funding for the PERA General Plan and Police and Fire to be at 110% in 2047.
Ok, but the PERA Correctional Plan would be funded at 120% in 2047. With "shared sacrifice" we sacrifice more. It reminds me of the book Animal Farm. "All animals are created equal. But some are more equal than others."
PERA does not make law, but are frequently asked for recommendations. These recommendations mirror the O'Driscoll and Rosen Bill.
They gave us this meeting because as stakeholders, MNPEA and retirees of MNPEA, had no input into what they will propose. Now we have, again thank you Doug Anderson.
The hope is when they meet in January they will recommend, like last year, no change to the PERA Correctional Plan.
*Post corrected 12/22/17 I originally posted P&F would get a .5% COLA.
Thursday, December 14, 2017
PERA Correctional Plan update
I attended the PERA Board meeting today. There was a motion to reduce our COLA to a 1% floor then tie it to Cost of Living (CPI).
They said they spoke to the "stakeholders" Teamsters Local 320 and AFSCME and they were on board!
They let me address them. Several Board Members thought it unfair to cut us from 2.5% to 1% like the General Plan as our numbers were where they wished all the plans were!
I explained that the MNPEA had majority of CO's, Teamsters lost almost all of theirs to MNPEA and AFSCME only had 100 at the Hennepin County Workhouse.
State Auditor Rebecca Otto made a motion that they contact MNPEA and reconvene in January as not all of the stakeholders had been contacted.
PERA Executive Director Doug Anderson and I spoke and exchanged contact info. He emailed me and I gave him the phone number of Tom Perkins, VP of MNPEA (and author of the PERA Correctional Pension). I also was stopped by reps from the League of Minnesota Cities and the League of Minnesota County's afterwards and we talked at length.
Executive Director Doug Anderson and MNPEA Vice President Tom Perkins will speak tomorrow, Dec. 15th.
The PERA Board will reconvene Jan. 12, 2018 and discuss their findings and make recommendations to the legislature soon after.
My local State Rep. Abigail Whelan spoke to Rep. O'Discoll about our concerns. Both of them recommend talking to your local reps and the PERA Board.
PERA will be making recommendations to the legislature next month. Don't wait!
Thursday, December 07, 2017
Meeting with my State Rep about our Pension
Just finished a very productive meeting with my State Representative Abigail Whelan. She met me at our local Dunn Brothers Coffee and we had a very productive conversation about the recent bills (HF 565, SF 545) that sought to lower our COLA. She was in agreement with our position and will be talking to Rep.O'Driscoll (one of the authors) about it.
As you know Governor Dayton vetoed them, but they were part of the Omnibus Bill and very likely will be re-introduced.
I cannot stress enough, please contact your State Representatives and Senators. Rep. Whelan also recommends this.
Stress that our PERA Correctional Pension is well funded.
There is no need for 'shared sacrifice' with less well run pensions.
There is already a trigger in our pension that if it drops below 80% funding our COLA automatically cuts to 1%. (We are funded at 95.7%).
PERA did not recommend any adjustments to our pension, only the Authors of the Bill (HF 565, SF 545) did.
I will be meeting soon with my State Senator Jim Abler.
I cannot thank Rep. Whelan enough for meeting me to hear our issue.
As you know Governor Dayton vetoed them, but they were part of the Omnibus Bill and very likely will be re-introduced.
I cannot stress enough, please contact your State Representatives and Senators. Rep. Whelan also recommends this.
Stress that our PERA Correctional Pension is well funded.
There is no need for 'shared sacrifice' with less well run pensions.
There is already a trigger in our pension that if it drops below 80% funding our COLA automatically cuts to 1%. (We are funded at 95.7%).
PERA did not recommend any adjustments to our pension, only the Authors of the Bill (HF 565, SF 545) did.
I will be meeting soon with my State Senator Jim Abler.
I cannot thank Rep. Whelan enough for meeting me to hear our issue.
Saturday, November 25, 2017
Sunday, November 19, 2017
Thursday, November 16, 2017
Surge in Hennepin County Felony Cases
"felony charges in Hennepin County are up in all types of crimes, including a 63 percent jump in murder charges, and 15 percent increase in drug charges" -Star Tribune
FULL STORY
FULL STORY
Female CO's sue Cook County
Working in a jail or prison can be a tough environment. It can be even tougher if you're a woman.
The Chicago Sun Times is reporting:
Female sheriff’s officers sue Dart over masturbating jail inmates
The Chicago Sun Times is reporting:
Female sheriff’s officers sue Dart over masturbating jail inmatesSaturday, November 11, 2017
Some Details
As with most of you, I am a fiscal conservative. I have watched pension plans crash and burn. Like the Teamsters Central States pension.
To Minnesota's Credit, the PERA Board and legislature have historically done a great job of keeping our pensions solvent.
The last eight years were not particularly good for many pensions. The MSRS Correctional Plan, PERA Police and Fire, TRA (Teachers Union) and Judges pensions are not doing so well
and wisely some adjustments are being made to insure they remain solvent into the future.
Among proposals by Sen. Rosen in SF545 is to reduce the Cost Of Living Adjustment (COLA) of some of the plans, but not equally. Among them is to cut MSRA Correctional from a 2% annual COLA to 1.5% and to cut our PERA Correctional COLA from 2.5% to 1.5% so they are uniform.
Wait a minute. MSRA Correctional is way under funded and only gets a .5% reduction in it's COLA. The PERA Correctional Plan which is funded at 95.7% is asked to take a 1% cut in COLA!
The Legislative Commission's own actuarials on the PERA Correctional Plan state, "The funded status of the plan will increase gradually towards a 100% funded ratio."
It's disturbing to see Republicans like Sen. Rosen and her counterpart in the House, Rep. O'Driscoll, wanting to make things uniform. That sounds more like socialism than conservatism. Sadly, the vote was 100% in the Senate for this.
I can understand the cut to the MSRA Correctional Plan, but not the PERA Corrections Plan. They are two separate pensions, separate funding and one plan is anemic, the other healthy. Why give the healthy plan the bigger cut? This is unfair to County Corrections Officers.
Here's a large part of the problem. The largest Unions representing County Corrections Officers are MNPEA and LELS. We had no input!
The two groups that had input were Teamsters Local 320 (who lost almost all of their CO's) and AFSCME. They were more interested is shoring up the pensions of their General Groups and Police, which make up a majority of their members.
AFSCME actually threw their approximately 100 CO's at the Hennepin County Workhouse under the bus. On their AFSME Council 5 website they call for shared sacrifice! Cutting our COLA does not help MSRS! If I were a Hennepin County Workhouse CO I'd scream bloody murder at AFSCME.
I leave you with a picture from AFSCME Council 5, calling for shared sacrifice! They plan on working against County CO's again in 2018. We have much work ahead.
To Minnesota's Credit, the PERA Board and legislature have historically done a great job of keeping our pensions solvent.
The last eight years were not particularly good for many pensions. The MSRS Correctional Plan, PERA Police and Fire, TRA (Teachers Union) and Judges pensions are not doing so well
and wisely some adjustments are being made to insure they remain solvent into the future.
Among proposals by Sen. Rosen in SF545 is to reduce the Cost Of Living Adjustment (COLA) of some of the plans, but not equally. Among them is to cut MSRA Correctional from a 2% annual COLA to 1.5% and to cut our PERA Correctional COLA from 2.5% to 1.5% so they are uniform.
Wait a minute. MSRA Correctional is way under funded and only gets a .5% reduction in it's COLA. The PERA Correctional Plan which is funded at 95.7% is asked to take a 1% cut in COLA!
The Legislative Commission's own actuarials on the PERA Correctional Plan state, "The funded status of the plan will increase gradually towards a 100% funded ratio."
It's disturbing to see Republicans like Sen. Rosen and her counterpart in the House, Rep. O'Driscoll, wanting to make things uniform. That sounds more like socialism than conservatism. Sadly, the vote was 100% in the Senate for this.
I can understand the cut to the MSRA Correctional Plan, but not the PERA Corrections Plan. They are two separate pensions, separate funding and one plan is anemic, the other healthy. Why give the healthy plan the bigger cut? This is unfair to County Corrections Officers.
Here's a large part of the problem. The largest Unions representing County Corrections Officers are MNPEA and LELS. We had no input!
The two groups that had input were Teamsters Local 320 (who lost almost all of their CO's) and AFSCME. They were more interested is shoring up the pensions of their General Groups and Police, which make up a majority of their members.
AFSCME actually threw their approximately 100 CO's at the Hennepin County Workhouse under the bus. On their AFSME Council 5 website they call for shared sacrifice! Cutting our COLA does not help MSRS! If I were a Hennepin County Workhouse CO I'd scream bloody murder at AFSCME.
I leave you with a picture from AFSCME Council 5, calling for shared sacrifice! They plan on working against County CO's again in 2018. We have much work ahead.
Friday, November 10, 2017
Pension Watch Pt 3, what we are up against.
Watch the video, in it Sen. Rosen, Chairman of the Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement speaks of her bill.
Of note is the stated goal at the 3 minute, 30 second mark of "stabilizing the pensions at 90%."
Watch the video and then look at my comment son You Tube.
Of note is the stated goal at the 3 minute, 30 second mark of "stabilizing the pensions at 90%."
Watch the video and then look at my comment son You Tube.
Tuesday, November 07, 2017
Pension Watch Part 2
So after much digging around here’s what I found out.
The PERA Board made no recommendations to change our
pension.
It is 100% politically driven by the legislature.
It is 100% politically driven by the legislature.
The Bill (HF565) was introduced into the House by Rep. Tim O’Driscoll
(R-Dist 13) and in the Senate (SF545) by Sen. Julie A. Rosen (R-Dist 23).
It died last time because Gov. Dayton vetoed it. But my
understanding is it’s coming back.
Our PERA Correctional Plan already pays out the lowest benefit of any
corrections or law enforcement pension in the state.
The Police and Fire pension pays out at a rate of 3% of their high 5 with a 1% annual COLA. They are only funded at 87.7%. (and they have a seat on the PERA board).
The State Corrections pension pays 2.4% a of their high 5 with a 2%
COLA. (and they have a seat on their MSRS pension board).
Our PERA Correctional Plan pays out at 1.9% of our high 5 with a 2.5% annual COLA because we are funded at 95.7%.
This Bill is patently unfair to PERA CO’s and Detention
Deputies. We have the healthiest pension and the lowest payout! If they want to
limit our COLA then make it fair and at least give us the 2.4% payout the State
Corrections Officers get!
 |
| Rep. Tim O'Driscoll |
If we can get the authors of the Bill to withdraw the Bill
or at least the part affecting us, we’ll be fine.
If not our pension will not keep up with the cost of living.
Contact Rep. Tim O'Driscoll rep.tim.odriscoll@house.mn and ask him to withdraw our portion from his Bill.
Home: Sartell P.O. Box 225, 56377
Contact Sen. Julie A. Rosen sen.julie.rosen@senate.mn
Contact Rep. Tim O'Driscoll rep.tim.odriscoll@house.mn and ask him to withdraw our portion from his Bill.
Home: Sartell P.O. Box 225, 56377
 |
| Sen. Julie A. Rosen |
Ask her to withdraw out potion from her Bill.
When you contact them stress the unfairness.
Our pension is fully funded with the lowest payout.
Ask why they are punishing us!
People who spend their lives in a dangerous career for public safety shouldn't get shortchanged at the end!
Feel free to contact me at my new email: pera.watchdog@gmail.com
When you contact them stress the unfairness.
Our pension is fully funded with the lowest payout.
Ask why they are punishing us!
People who spend their lives in a dangerous career for public safety shouldn't get shortchanged at the end!
Feel free to contact me at my new email: pera.watchdog@gmail.com
Saturday, November 04, 2017
PERA Correctional Pension Watch
Of particular concern is this Correctional Plan item from the PERA website:
Anderson said that PERA staff will continue to meet with Correctional Plan stakeholders to gather input into possible plan changes. The Board did not propose changes during the 2017 legislative session; however, the Legislature did propose a change from the current 2.5 percent trigger to a fixed 1.5 percent COLA.
In the same letter the legislature is proposing a change from a 1% COLA for Police and Fire to 1.5%.
Currently the *Correctional Plan is funded at 95.7% and the Police & Fire Plan at 87.7%. The trigger for a 2.5% COLA is 90%.
*Source PERA Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.Pg 12.
The exceptional health of the Correctional Plan triggers the higher 2.5% COLA for Correctional retirees.
The Police and Fire Plan has had issues and has been unable to hit the 90% -2.5% COLA trigger.
Our Correctional Plan pays out at a rate of 1.9% of our contributions. Police and Fire pays out 3%!
Our plan has more money and triggers the 2.5% COLA. Theirs currently does not.
I don't care what they give P&F, but the proposed downplaying of our benefit seems to be a give away from the money WE paid into ours for another plan.
There is a PERA meeting on December 14th supposedly seeking input I want to attend. I just emailed PERA to get the info.
Why is this important? Former Teamsters Business Agent David Metusalem has Retired from the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office to be Executive Director of Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association, aka MPPOA (Congratulations). This required him to relinquish his seat on the Police and Fire Plan Board, triggering an election. We've never had a seat at the table!
The PERA website says they are meeting with "Correctional Plan Stakeholders." Who?
Why does this matter? P&F have members watching their retirement. Corrections does not!
Back in 2009 when we at Hennepin County were Teamsters, we made a proposal to get a Detention Deputy on the PERA Board. It passed, but never happened.
Who is looking out for us? Back in 1997 when we were first meeting at the Teamsters building with Mike Golen and Tom Perkins (our plans' architect) , Dan Wells from LELS sat behind me laughing at the idea. MPPOA and LELS won't care. Teamsters failed to act!
We have to get a Detention Deputy/CO and or Retiree on the Board. MNPEA members your board is already on this. The Correctional Plan architect is on MNPEA's board.
MPPOA and LELS, are you going to protect your 800 CO's?
Watch this blog for updates. Be prepared to contact your State Reps.
Wednesday, November 01, 2017
A good on and off duty Legal Defense Plan is a necessity
Fox 9 just ran a story about Hennepin County Sheriff Rick Stanek being involved in a fight in Las Vegas. Click here for FULL STORY
Unfortunately this sort of conduct emphasizes the all too common double standard of one set of rules for elected officials and another for everyone else.
I hope current licensed and detention stewards pay attention. This does set a precedent for discipline of employees for off duty conduct.
As a long time steward I can't tell how many times that same Sheriff disciplined employees for similar off duty conduct.
Before joining MNPEA, Hennepin County Detention Deputies were part of LELS. At that time they didn't cover either on or off duty charges. Next we went to Teamsters, their plan covered on duty incidences, but off duty you were still on your own.
When MNPEA formed in 2011, it was designed to protect members on and off duty with their legal plan. People will be people, and without protection off duty incidences can cost you time, money and as a public employee your job. They even added full coverage for spouses, because their conduct can also affect you and your job.
You don't have to abide their double standard.
Unfortunately this sort of conduct emphasizes the all too common double standard of one set of rules for elected officials and another for everyone else.
I hope current licensed and detention stewards pay attention. This does set a precedent for discipline of employees for off duty conduct.
As a long time steward I can't tell how many times that same Sheriff disciplined employees for similar off duty conduct.
Before joining MNPEA, Hennepin County Detention Deputies were part of LELS. At that time they didn't cover either on or off duty charges. Next we went to Teamsters, their plan covered on duty incidences, but off duty you were still on your own.
When MNPEA formed in 2011, it was designed to protect members on and off duty with their legal plan. People will be people, and without protection off duty incidences can cost you time, money and as a public employee your job. They even added full coverage for spouses, because their conduct can also affect you and your job.
You don't have to abide their double standard.