We want to share with you a letter we received from Brandon Presley, candidate for Governor. We appreciate your participation in our Candidate Forum and for filling out our survey. Thank you for your support of PERS and Mississippians!
This spring, MRPEA conducted a survey of all candidates for state positions and state house and senate positions. This survey was designed to determine support or lack thereof for maintaining present benefits for PERS members including retirees, current and future and future employees. The survey was sent to candidates for Gov, Lt Gov. Ag, Treasurer, and Secretary of State as well as members of the Legislature. We encourage you to SEE WHO DID AND DID NOT RESPOND.
Here is the survey that was sent out: 2023 Candidate Survey
Here are the results: 2023 Candidate Survey Results
We also want to share letters from the Candidate for Governor, Brandon Presley, and Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann, supporting the PERS System.
Join us Tuesday, September 12 from 1 pm-3pm at the Mississippi Agriculture Museum in the Forestry Auditorium.
We are excited to list our confirmed speakers:
We want to share with you a letter we received from Delbert Hosemann, our Lt. Governor. Thank you for your support of PERS and Mississippians!
Join us for our 2023 Candidate Forum on Tuesday, September 12 from 1 pm to 3 pm.
Ballots for the retiree representative to the PERS Board of Trustees will be mailed out on March 17, 2023. The deadline for receipt of ballots is April 21, 2023. The candidates in the runoff are George Dale and Bonnie Granger. Having retired members on the PERS Board that support maintaining existing benefits of PERS for current and future retirees is critically essential. To assist retiree members in making an informed decision, MRPEA is providing Candidate Qualifications, Candidate Surveys, and historical information about the recent vote of the PERS Board to increase employer contribution rates:
Candidate Qualifications: The work of the PERS Board involves complicated financial, legal, and administrative decision-making focused on maintaining the financial integrity and benefits of the retirement system.
George R. Dale (Clinton)
• Mississippi College, master’s
• Mississippi Department of Insurance, commissioner
• Moss Point High School; teacher, coach, and principal
• Administrative Assistant to Governor Bill Waller
I am completing my first term as a member of the PERS Board. It has been an honor to serve. During my term, I have not missed a board meeting. When I started on the Pers Board, we had a cash reserve of approximately 26.5 billion dollars. That amount has increased to around 36 billion dollars. This board has been very conservative with your retirement funds. I have championed the idea that retired teachers collect their pension, but be allowed to work under contract with the public school system. I would appreciate your vote. George Dale
Bonnie J. Granger (Ocean Springs)
• Loyola University School of Law, Juris Doctorate
• University of Southern Mississippi, master’s
• Hattiesburg Public School District, chief financial officer
• Certified Public Accountant
• Attorney, Mississippi and Louisiana
I have vast knowledge and experience in government finance. My career began with the State Auditor’s Office and transitioned into public school district finance, where I served three districts as Finance Director. I received my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Accounting from the University of Southern Mississippi and my law degree from Loyola University. I am a licensed CPA and an attorney in Mississippi. My experience gives me an unparalleled advantage in understanding the PERS system. I strongly support maintaining both the health and member benefits of the PERS system for current and future retirees. Thank you for your support.
Candidate Surveys: MRPEA conducted surveys of each candidate to assess their support for maintaining current retirement system benefits. Members are urged to review the full response of each candidate to the survey. Below are the answers from the survey typed for viewing.
Recent vote of the PERS Board to increase employer contribution rates: At its meeting on December 20, 2022, the PERS Board, based on recommendations of the system’s actuaries and staff, voted to increase employer contributions to make PERS benefits sustainable now and into the future. An excerpt from the PERS Board Meeting Minutes that includes the vote of each member is below for your review.
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Minutes | Board of Trustees
Public Employees’ Retirement System of Mississippi
December 20, 2022 | PERS Board Room
Page 4
Motion: To increase the Public Employees’ Retirement System of Mississippi employer contribution rate from 17.4 percent to 22.4 percent as of October 1, 2023.
• Made by: McCoy.
• Seconded by: Hanna.
• Discussion: None.
• Voting for: Benson, Breland, Hanna, Howard, McCoy, Rutledge, and Smith.
• Voting against: Dale, Graham, and McRae.
• Absent: None.
• Duly Passed
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Please check your mail and complete and return your ballot right away after carefully reviewing all of the information provided here. Make your choice for the person you believe will best serve the interests of current and future retirees. Also, please encourage other retirees to vote as well and share the information provided in this communication. Thank you in advance for your participation in this very important election. Your voice matters!!!
Friday, February 3 Update
Good Morning!
Update on House Bill 605: A member alert was sent out by MRPEA on January 31 regarding the dangers posed by House Bill 605 to the Public Employee Retirement System (PERS) and its beneficiaries. As of 2/2/2023 House Bill 605 has passed out of the House Appropriations Committee and sits on the House calendar. Members are urged to immediately contact their State Representative and Senator to express their concerns regarding this legislation.
What the Bill does:
–It orders that current contribution rates for employees and employers shall not be increased unless authorized by the Legislature.
–It directs PERS to present recommendations for making changes to the retirement system that would apply to future members of the system.
Background: At present, the PERS Board and staff are responsible for ensuring the financial integrity of the retirement system. A vital part of this responsibility involves reviewing and acting on reports and recommendations of the actuary hired by the Board to study and monitor the financial soundness of the system. At its meeting on December 20, 2022, the Board heard recommendations from the actuary and voted based on those recommendations to increase employer contributions during the upcoming year. This action was taken in accordance with the standard operating procedures of PERS.
Talking points when contacting legislators:
–The professional staff and Board of PERS need to make decisions to ensure the financial integrity of PERS.
–Changes do not need to be made to the PERS system that would cut benefits to retirees, now or in the future.
–Retirees oppose House Bill 605
Quick facts on PERS:
–PERS system members total 353,000.
–PERS paid $3.1 billion in retirement benefits last year.
–92 percent of all benefits paid remain in the state.
–Millions in benefit payments flow to virtually every county benefiting Mississippi’s economy at the local and state levels.
–Over the 30-year period that ended June 30, 2022, member contributions and earnings from investments provided 72% of the retirement system’s total funding.
–Each dollar “invested” by Mississippi taxpayers in the plan supports $4.50 in total economic activity in the state.
Resources:
Senators and Representatives during session – 601-359-3770
Measure Search | MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE (ms.gov) Read the full text of House Bill 605
Find Your State Legislators – Open States
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!
