The Mississippi Retired Public Employees’ Association (MRPEA) has published its Summer 2017 Issue of The Guardian. Catch up on current MRPEA-related news and events – as well as news related to the Public Employees’ Retirement System of Mississippi (PERS) – in this issue of The Guardian.
Author Archives: Bob Rhoads
Fitch to chair, Breland to vice chair PERS Board of Trustees
Mississippi Treasurer Lynn Fitch has transitioned from vice chairman to chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Public Employees’ Retirement System of Mississippi (PERS) for fiscal year 2018, which began July 1.
At the Board’s June 27 meeting, Fitch became chairman for fiscal year 2018, succeeding Dr. Randy McCoy, one of the Board’s two retiree representatives.
The Board then elected as its new vice chairman Kelly Breland, director of the Bureau of Administration for the Mississippi Department of Mental Health and one of the Board’s two state employee representatives.
The chairman presides at board meetings, appoints members of board committees, and can call special meetings. The vice chairman transitions to chairman after a year and serves as chairman when the current chairman is absent.
The 10-member PERS Board includes the state Treasurer, a gubernatorial appointee who is a member of PERS, two retirees, two state employees, and one representative each of public schools and community colleges, Institutions of Higher Learning, counties and municipalities. With the exception of the state Treasurer and the gubernatorial appointee, board members are elected to staggered six-year terms.
MRPEA publishes Spring 2017 Issue of The Guardian
The Mississippi Retired Public Employees’ Association (MRPEA) has published its Spring 2017 Issue of The Guardian. Catch up on current MRPEA-related news and events – as well as news related to the Public Employees’ Retirement System of Mississippi (PERS) – in this issue of The Guardian.
George Dale elected to PERS Board of Trustees
George Dale, former Mississippi commissioner of insurance, has been elected as a new retiree representative on the Public Employees’ Retirement System of Mississippi (PERS) Board of Trustees.
“Mr. Dale brings decades of public service and a wealth of knowledge with him to the Board,” said Pat Robertson, PERS executive director. “I look forward to working with him.”
At its April 25 meeting, the Board certified the results of the runoff election between Dale and Dr. Philip Pepper, former Mississippi state economist.
Dale’s term will run from May 1, 2017, to April 30, 2023. He is filling the retiree representative position held by his predecessor, Dr. Richard C. Miller, who is retiring from the Board April 30 after nearly 22 years of service.
The 10-member PERS Board includes the state Treasurer, a gubernatorial appointee who is a member of PERS, two retirees, two state employees, and one representative each of public schools and community colleges, institutions of higher learning, counties, and municipalities. With the exception of the state treasurer and the gubernatorial appointee, board members are elected to staggered six-year terms.
For more information about PERS, visit www.pers.ms.gov.
PERS publishes newsletters
The Public Employees’ Retirement System of Mississippi (PERS) has published Winter 2017 issues of Looking Forward, PERS’ member newsletter, and Forward, PERS’ retiree newsletter. Both issues feature the Popular Annual Financial Report, as well as a column from PERS Executive Director Pat Robertson.
PERS holds runoff for retiree representative
The Public Employees’ Retirement System of Mississippi (PERS) is holding a runoff election for one of the two retiree representatives on its Board of Trustees. The runoff candidates are George Dale, former commissioner of insurance, and Dr. Philip Pepper, former state economist.
PERS will mail runoff ballots to eligible voters Monday, March 6. The deadline to cast runoff ballots is 5 p.m. Thursday, April 6. The PERS Board will certify the election results at its April 25 meeting. The retiree representative term will run from May 1, 2017, to April 30, 2023, and will replace Dr. Richard C. Miller who is retiring April 30, 2017, after serving 22 years as a trustee. Visit www.pers.ms.gov to view the complete election schedule, a sample runoff ballot listing the candidates, and their biographical information and candidate statements.
The Mississippi Retired Public Employees’ Association (MRPEA) surveyed candidates running for this retiree representative post. Click on the links below to review the survey responses and position statements received by MRPEA from the two candidates in the runoff election.
Phil Pepper MRPEA Survey Response and Phil Pepper Position Statement
The 10-member PERS Board includes the state Treasurer, a gubernatorial appointee who is a member of PERS, two PERS retirees, two state employees, and one representative each of public schools and community/junior colleges, Institutions of Higher Learning, counties, and municipalities. With the exception of the state Treasurer and the gubernatorial appointee, board members are elected to staggered six-year terms.
PERS-sponsored bills await action in Senate Finance Committee
The following PERS-sponsored bills remain under active consideration by the Mississippi Legislature during the 2017 Regular Session and are currently assigned to the Senate Finance Committee. Tues., Feb. 28 is the deadline for the Senate Finance Committee to take action on these bills.
HB 978 – Mac Huddleston on behalf of PERS – Seeks to revise certain provisions of the Government Employees’ Deferred Compensation Law.
HB 1301 – Mac Huddleston on behalf of PERS – Seeks to make minor technical corrections to PERS, SLRP, and MHSPRS law; seeks to exempt PERS Executive Director from salary cap.
MRPEA publishes winter 2017 issue of The Guardian
The Mississippi Retired Public Employees’ Association (MRPEA) has published its winter 2017 issue of The Guardian. Catch up on current MRPEA-related news and events – as well as news related to the Public Employees’ Retirement System of Mississippi (PERS) – in this issue of The Guardian.
PERS-related bills that are still alive
Only two PERS-related bills survived the Jan. 31 committee deadline, and both bills are PERS-sponsored/supported bills. The two PERS-related bills that remain alive are listed below.
HB 978 – Mac Huddleston on behalf of PERS – Seeks to revise certain provisions of the Government Employees’ Deferred Compensation Law.
HB 1301 – Mac Huddleston on behalf of PERS – Seeks to make minor technical corrections to PERS, SLRP, and MHSPRS law; seeks to exempt PERS Executive Director from salary cap.
PEER releases 2016 update on financial soundness of PERS
The Mississippi Legislature’s Joint Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review (PEER) has released its 2016 update on the financial soundness of the Public Employees’ Retirement System of Mississippi (PERS). This is the fifth in a related series of annual reports issued by PEER since December 2012 and provides a concise overview of where PERS stands financially. The report also includes an update on the status of the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol Retirement System.
PERS: 2016 Update on Financial Soundness (Executive Summary)