We just received word that House Bill 605 has passed the appropriations committee. If voted into law, this bill would allow for the legislature to have veto power over the PERS board. It would greatly hinder the PERS board’s ability to make fiscally responsible decisions for the system, as well as allow the legislature to tie the board’s hands when making contribution increases. We cannot overstate how dangerous this would be for the health of the system. We ask you to call your legislators and let them know that as a PERS member, you do not support this bill! This will affect ACTIVE members just as much as it would retired members as it would jeopardize the health of the system. Please share this with your friends and neighbors and encourage them to call as well!
Author Archives: Emily Pote
2022 Annual Meeting
Don’t miss our annual meeting on Wednesday, July 20th at the Embassy Suites!
Thank YOU MRPEA Members!
I would like to take this opportunity to thank each of you for your membership and to welcome all of our new members to the Mississippi Retired Public Employee Association. MRPEA needs every member we can get to strengthen our voice as there is power in numbers. I am asking each of you to continue to reach out to people you know who are members of the Mississippi Public Employee Retirement System and invite them to become members of MRPEA. It may be someone you go to church with, work with, or a family member. The reason most people are not current members is that they are probably unaware that our organization exists.
There is much work to be done to ensure that our organization is moving forward and growing. If you have a desire to play a role above and beyond membership in making that happen, feel free to reach out to our Executive Director, Emily Pote, and let her know. The Legislature is nearing the end of this year’s Regular Session. I know many of you contacted your local Senator or Representative and expressed your desire to continue the current structure of our benefits. Personal contact with these public servants is very important and key to the success of our mission to protect the financial security and benefits of PERS for current and future retirees.
As the pandemic seems to have quieted somewhat, it is my hope that we are able to hold an annual conference this year. We are currently working on plans to do this in the event it is possible. We will attempt to create an atmosphere that is safe as we all need to remain cautious. If a conference is able to take place, I am hopeful that many of you will be able to attend so we can network together and learn from one another.
The last two years have been very different and trying for all of us. Many of our friends and loved ones have tested positive and some have passed away. Our prayers are with everyone going forward and wish you the very best.
Steven Allen, MRPEA President
New Members
We are working to grow MRPEA so that we can better serve YOU, our member!
Welcome new members! Remember, there is strength in numbers. The power of affiliation gives each member and the group as a whole a recognized voice of leadership to protect and strengthen PERS in the legislature and statewide.
Benny Butts
Beverly Terrell
Mike Roberts
Veronica C Vaughn
Andrew O. Day
Gaye M May
Garrett DeYoung
Judy Savage
Suzanne Shorter
Linda Foshee
David C Lowery
Sam F Swindoll
The Spring Edition of the Guardian is Here
Click HERE to read MRPEA’s Spring 2022 edition of The Guardian
Welcome New MRPEA Members
I would like to take this opportunity to thank each of you for your membership
and to welcome all of our new members to the Mississippi Retired Public Employee
Association. MRPEA needs every member. we can get to strengthen our voice as there is
power in numbers. I am asking each of you to continue to reach out to people you know
who are members of the Mississippi Public Employee Retirement System and invite them
to become members of MRPEA. It may be someone you go to church with, work with, or
a family member. The reason most people are not current members is that they are probably
unaware that our organization exists.
There is much work to be done to ensure that our organization is moving
forward and growing. If you have a desire to play a role above and beyond
membership in making that happen, feel free to reach out to our Executive Director,
Emily Pote, and let her know. The Legislature is nearing the end of this year’s Regular
Session. I know many of you contacted your local Senator or Representative and
expressed your desire to continue the current structure of our benefits. Personal
contact with these public servants is very important and key to the success of our
mission to protect the financial security and benefits of PERS for current and future
retirees.
As the pandemic seems to have quieted somewhat, it is my hope that we
are able to hold an annual conference this year. We are currently working on plans
to do this in the event it is possible. We will attempt to create an atmosphere that
is safe as we all need to remain cautious. If a conference is able to take place, I am
hopeful that many of you will be able to attend so we can network together and
learn from one another.
The last two years have been very different and trying for all of us. Many
of our friends and loved ones have tested positive and some have passed away. Our
prayers are with everyone going forward and wish all of you the best.
—Steven Allen, MRPEA President
Summary of House & Senate Bills
House Bill 531 would:
- Eliminate state income taxes for most taxpayers in 2023 and phase it out totally within about a decade
- Increase the sales tax on most retail items from 7% to 8.5%, an increase of 20%.
- Cut the grocery tax eventually from 7% to 4%
- Cut car tags in half, by using state tax dollars to subsidize local government car tag fees.
Senate Bill 3164 would:
- Phase-out the 4% state income tax bracket over four years. This would mean people would pay no state income tax on their first $26,600 of income, a savings of about $50 a year.
- Reduce the state grocery tax from 7% to 5%, starting in July.
- Provide up to a 5%, one-time income tax rebate in 2022 for those who paid taxes. The
rebates would range from $100 to $1,000.
- Eliminate the state fee on car tags going into the general fund, which would be about $5 off the cost of a new tag, $3.75 for renewals.
2022 Legislative Update
House Bill (HB) 531 would increase the sales tax that all Mississippians pay on
most items by 20% raising the rate from 7% to 8.5%. The House plan would eliminate
state income taxes for most taxpayers in 2023 and phase it out totally in future
years. The state income tax accounts for 1/3 of general fund revenue at present.
If you are at least 59 years old, half Mississippi does not impose income tax
on your retirement income. This includes distributions from 401ks, IRAs, pensions, deferred compensation plans, and Social Security and applies to all Mississippi retirees (in both the private and public sectors). Because your retirement income is already exempt from state income tax, retirees living on a fixed income from these sources will receive no benefit from the elimination of the state income tax while paying 20% more sales tax on most items under HB 531.
The Senate has also filed a tax cut bill: SB 3164. Overall the Senate plan has a number of elements that could benefit PERS members and other retirees but does include a phase-out of the 4% state income tax bracket and up to a 5% one- time tax rebate in 2022 only for those who paid income taxes. Further erosion of the state income tax revenues is not in the best
interest of PERS members. Tax rebates which can be implemented periodically
based on available revenues represent a more prudent approach to managing the
state’s finances. However, these rebates should be made to all Mississippians who filed a tax return, not just those who paid income tax. This would benefit all retirees including PERS members who pay substantial amounts in sales, local and other taxes each year.
Recommended Action
Oppose HB 531. Request amendment of SB 3164 by eliminating the
proposed phase-out of the 4% income tax bracket and making the tax rebate in 2022
available to all Mississippians filing a tax return, not just those who paid income tax.
Contact Speaker of the House, Phillip Gunn, Ways and Means Chairman, Trey Lamar, Lieutenant Governor, Delbert Hosemann, Senate Finance Chairman, Josh Harkins, and your local Representative and Senator at the Capitol Switchboard (601) 359-2220.
What the State Economist’s Office says
The State Economist’s Office has studied the House tax cut plan and
determined that by 2032 it would result in a loss of population and a reduction
in employment and personal income in Mississippi. By 2035 there would be a
reduction in state gross domestic product. These findings have negative implications
for current and future PERS retirees and for the state as a whole.
What state business leaders say
“The Mississippi tax environment was not high profile nor even discussed
significantly as a priority,” said a report released by the Mississippi Economic
Council at the state Capitol on Wednesday, based on dozens of meetings and hundreds
of surveys of business leaders across the state last year.”
“A businessman raised the topic (at one meeting) and dismissed it as a bad
idea (a distraction issue, but not really a hindrance to most businesses).”
State business leaders consider the lack of skilled workers, Mississippi’s image, and problems from the pandemic far more pressing issues.
MRPEA Board Member Obituaries
DR. THOMAS (TOM) H. LOFTIN
Dr. Thomas (Tom) H. Loftin died March 11, 2021, after a long battle with ALS.
He was born on September 28, 1932. He started work in the fall of 1953
teaching chemistry at Myric High School in Jones County. In July 1954 he started working
with the Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service as an assistant county agent and later
associate county agent in Poplarville, MS. In June 1965 the family moved to
Starkville, MS where Tom began working with the Mississippi Cooperative Extension’s
Community Rural Development department at Mississippi State University. He retired as
the state leader for the Department of Community Development in 1986. After retirement, he was a private consultant for ten years, served as secretary of the state Agriculture Economics Association, state vice-president then later state president of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees. He served as director of District 5 of the Mississippi Retired Public Employees’ and is a life member of the board.
DR. ALTON COBB
Dr. Alton Cobb died peacefully at home surrounded by family on October 14, 2021. Dr. Cobb was born on October 19, 1928. He had a career Public Health that spanned 35 years. He first served as a county health director for Sunflower County, and then
as the director of Chronic Disease Services for the MS Department of Health. Dr. Cobb
was an active voice in conversations with Governor John Bell Williams about whether
to bring Medicaid to MS. When that came to pass, Dr. Cobb became the first executive
director of the MS Medicaid Commission. In 1973 he was appointed State Health Officer
for the MS Department of Health, a position he held until 1992.
Once asked by [his wife] Mary what he would wish if granted one last wish,
Dr. Cobb quipped “More affordable and accessible health care for all the people of
Mississippi.” He was practical and principled and uninterested in material possessions and
he spent his life working towards that end.
Growing MRPEA Membership Will Grow Voice at State Capital
Thank you for being a member of the Mississippi Retired Public Employees’
Association. MRPEA is an organization that represents anyone associated with the
Mississippi Public Employee Retirement System includes active employees and
retired employees. Currently, there are 2,213 members of this association. That voice is strong when it comes to advocating for your continued and future benefits, but we need as
many members as possible.
I would like to take this opportunity to challenge each of you to recruit one new
member per month for the next 12 months. If less than half of our membership does
this that would increase our membership by 12,000 next year. The upcoming Legislative Session will begin in January 2022. I would like to encourage each of you, your family, and others associated with PERS to reach out to your Legislator and let them know how important your benefits are to your well-being.
There have been many challenges as a result of the pandemic. In some ways,
people have gotten very creative in communicating. It is my hope that our state can
get back to some type of normalcy soon. If so, hopefully, we can have an in-person
conference this coming year.
I would like to personally thank all of the Board members for donating time
to serve in each capacity as we move forward. I believe there are some great ideas
among all of us to make this organization great. I would also like to thank Emily
Pote for her hard work and dedication to this organization. I would encourage each
of you to reach out to her or myself with ideas you have of growing our membership
or other important issues.
I pray each of you and your family has a happy and safe new year.
Steven Allen, MRPEA President