Dr. Brian Rutledge, University of Mississippi Medical Center chief of staff and the Board’s institutions of higher learning employee representative, has transitioned from vice chair to chair of the Board of Trustees of the Public Employees’ Retirement System of Mississippi (PERS) for fiscal year 2020, which began July 1.

Chris Howard, executive director of the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services and one of the Board’s two state employee representatives, will serve as the new vice chair.

Click here to read the release.

The Mississippi Retired Public Employees’ Association (MRPEA) has published its Spring 2019 Issue of The Guardian, as well as the Guardian Alert!

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.

MRPEA has been working to make sure YOU know the facts about YOUR retirement. Here are some points President Ann Thames collected:

• Mississippi’s total population is almost 3 million people.
• PERS membership as of June 30, 2017, was 325,000 (approximately 11 %)
• Add family members and the number doubles or more (nearly 27% if the figure is 800,000)
• 105,000 PERS members are receiving benefits (8.5%)
• Mississippi Public Employees are REQUIRED to contribute 9% of the salaries to PERS monthly with the promise of receiving retirement benefits when they are eligible to retire. This constitutes a contract with the state which must be honored. PERS benefits are earned. They are NOT an “entitlement”.
• The average retirement benefit is $23,220.
• The Cost of Living Adjustment (3% compounded annually) helps balance the effects of inflation. It is NOT an “extra” check.
• The basic PERS benefit is the same from the day a person retires until death.
  Some private sector companies pay salaries and fund a pension for their employees without requiring them to pay into it. A 401K option may be available if the employee chooses to contribute.
• PERS is in excellent financial condition.
• An additional employer contribution was requested to ensure funding at 100% for the next 40 years.
• PERS is currently funded at 61% for each dollar owed on liabilities through 2042.
• If your mortgage was paid and you had until 2042 to pay off the other 39%, you would consider yourself in good shape.
• Many PERS members (baby boomers) will die within the next 10-20 years
• Not as many current employees will mean fewer people drawing retirement benefits.
• PERS members contribute to the economy.
• The legislature is deliberately creating a budget “crisis” as other states have done.
• They are making a conscious decision not to fund PERS and instead take the money from state agencies who provide much-needed services to many Mississippians. (See Bobby Harrison quote in CL article Nov. 9, Legislative leaders expect modest revenue growth next year)
• Legislative leadership is following the lead of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), (located in Arlington, VA) www.alec.com, of which Speaker Phillip Gunn is a member of the board of directors, and Sen. Josh Harkins, a lieutenant of Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves is Mississippi’s State Chair.
• One of ALEC’s primary issues is pension reform which has occurred in other states using the same formula as Mississippi is using with disastrous results. (Kansas for one)

The Mississippi Retired Public Employees’ Association (MRPEA) has published its Winter 2019 Issue of The Guardian, as well as the Guardian Alert!

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.

Dr. Randy McCoy is the current state retiree representative on the PERS board and has done an outstanding job of supporting MRPEA’s position of no changes to PERS.  He is not noted as the incumbent on the ballot so please cast your vote for Dr. McCoy that we may continue to be well represented on the PERS board.

https://www.pers.ms.gov/Content/General/Retiree_Rep_Election_Letter_Schedule_Packet.pdf

By Emily Wagster Pettus and Jeff Amy, Associated Press

JACKSON, Miss. — Retired Mississippi government employees who win legislative seats this year could be paid for legislative work while continuing to collect pension benefits. That is according to a new rule the state pension system is on track to adopt.

The board of the Mississippi Public Employees Retirement System voted Tuesday to direct the system’s staff to draft a new rule with a goal of having it in place by January, when the new four-year legislative term begins.

The Mississippi retirement system had a longstanding rule that said state elected officials could not receive salaries and pension benefits simultaneously. Attorney General Jim Hood issued a legal opinion in November contradicting that rule.

Read more here.

AG Calls on Public Retirees to Attend PERS Board Meeting Tuesday

JACKSON—Attorney General Jim Hood is encouraging state retirees to attend a meeting Tuesday with the Board of the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) regarding their ability to run for a state legislative seat without forfeiting retirement benefits.

General Hood issued an opinion on November 29 (attached and linked here) confirming that retired state employees should keep their pension while serving in the Mississippi Legislature. PERS already allows retirees to serve in a local elective office but not in the Legislature

“The PERS Retiree members have vested rights to their benefits, are entitled to receive their benefits and, if qualified and elected, they have a right to serve as a representative or senator in the Mississippi Legislature without forfeiture of their PERS retirement benefits,” the opinion says. General Hood issued another opinion in January answering related questions (attached and linked here).

On Tuesday, February 12, at 11:30 a.m., the PERS Board will discuss whether to adopt regulations implementing the Attorney General’s opinion in time for the March 1, 2019 deadline to qualify as a candidate for the Legislature.  The meeting will be at the PERS office at 429 Mississippi Street in Jackson. General Hood strongly encourages any current government employees or retirees with any interest in potentially running for the Legislature office now or in the future to attend this important meeting and voice their support. For those who cannot attend Tuesday’s meeting, call PERS at 800-444-7377 or 601-359-3589 or email customerservice@pers.ms.gov.

“Every citizen of this state deserves an equal opportunity to stand for elected office. We should work together to remove this financial barrier which keeps retired teachers, law enforcement, social workers, health care workers, and other hard-working retirees from fully participating in our state government,” General Hood said. “For too many years, the state has denied public retirees their hard-earned retirement money if they choose to continue serving their state as a legislator. Mississippi desperately needs and deserves its best citizens, including retirees, serving as legislators. I encourage anyone who works for the state who has ever had the smallest interest in one day serving as a legislator or in a statewide elected position to attend Tuesday’s meeting, as the decisions of PERS will directly impact your future ability to be a public servant while still receiving your retirement.”

Tuesday’s PERS meeting is a special-called board meeting. The meeting agenda can be found here.

WHO: State of Mississippi employees and retirees

WHAT: Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) Board Meeting

WHEN: Tuesday, February 12, at 11:30 a.m.

WHERE: 429 Mississippi Street, Jackson, MS

If unable to attend Tuesday’s meeting, call PERS at 800-444-7377 or 601-359-3589 or email customerservice@pers.ms.gov.