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At the top of DPSOA’s legislative
agenda is an item that reads, “Support a cost-of-living
increase for retirees.” Although we continue to support a
raise for retirees, we have taken more of a defensive
position by aggressively working to protect current retiree
benefits. Both the state employee retirement fund and the
law enforcement custodial officer supplemental retirement
fund are currently “under funded” in that they have an
accrued actuarial liability that cannot be amortized within
their statutorily-defined 31 year funding period. Because
of their negative funding status, neither fund has been able
to provide a benefit enhancement in a number of years.
DPSOA’s objective is to
restore the actuarial soundness of the state employee and
supplemental retirement funds and thereby position the funds
for a future benefit enhancement for retirees, either in the
form of a 13th check or an annuity increase. DPSOA will
continue to advocate for proper funding levels to the
retirement funds, thereby shoring them up financially and
speeding up their ability to provide a benefit enhancement
for retirees.
The Association’s
legislative agenda, which is located on the following pages,
is ambitious, big, and all-consuming to the efforts of the
DPSOA Legislative Committee. Just prior to my sitting down
to write this article, the Governor released his plan for
reorganizing the Department of Public Safety. Needless to
say, the attention given to the Governor’s plan has
dominated the time that the Legislative Committee spends on
matters that affect the Department. As you know, one aspect
of the Governor’s plan would create a new 9-hour schedule.
This, of course, will put more money into the pockets of
commissioned officers at DPS. The other aspect of the plan
is the proposed reorganization of the Texas Rangers and
criminal law enforcement divisions at the Department.
As this magazine goes to
press, we are busy scheduling meetings to better understand
the Governor’s rationale for advancing such a dramatic
proposal. DPSOA will not take a position on these two
aspects of the plan until we fully comprehend what the
Governor hopes to achieve with his sweeping ideas. However,
we do appreciate the increased incomes that the 9-hour
schedule will mean for working officers and will work with
the Governor to finding the additional funds necessary to
make this happen.
Finally, I close by urging you to support Don
Green’s re-election to the ERS board of trustees. Don has
been a long-time supporter of DPSOA and its agenda and has a
strong record of supporting state employees, state retirees,
and maintaining current retirement and health care benefits
for all state employees and their families. On the
following pages is an endorsement of Don Green’s re-election
by the Texas Public Employees Association (TPEA). We
heartily concur with TPEA’s endorsement. Please vote to
return Don Green to the ERS board of trustees so that he can
keep working for us. |