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Just as a contrast, because these types of stories always seem to want to focus on the very top of the employment food-chain for a given organization. By that what I mean is that, as in this case there is 1, yes 1, Superintendent for a school system. The school system where I work as over 4000 employees, but only 1 Superintendent.
I joined the school system fairly late in life, at 65 I can retire with 25 years. If I were to retire today with that 25 years I'd receive retirement pension of $27,300 based on a salary of $65,000. If I had 30-years with the division retirement would be would be $33,100.
The fact is that these types of stories rarely focus on the vast majority of government employees and what they will receive, the focus on the very top tier employees to inflame the masses and to build resentment.
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BTW - I have no problem with transitioning from a defined benefit plan to a defined contribution plan for government employees, however, when employees have worked there entire life under an existing plan then those promises should be honored. Transition to defined contribution plans for those entering the system with stepped changes based on longevity for those already in the system. It would take 30-40 years to wean government entities from defined benefit plans, but that would be the only way to honor commitments already made.
BTW2 - Just to piss off those that want to piss and moan about pensions that we have earned, I'm retired military if I retired today under my existing plans, then my total pension compensation would be about $44,500 (State + Military) after 45 years of service. While my wife and I should be able to live a modestly comfortable lifestyle on that amount, it's hardly rolling-in-the-dough.
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OK, how many other "administrative" personel does your school system have that didn't exist forty years ago? You say you only have "1" Superintendant but how many other high priced administrators does your system have?
People have brought up that Wisconsin school systems are threatening to lay off teachers because of budget cuts? I've seen this drill so many times before it's just more of the same dog and pony show that we're always subjected to whenever cuts are made to education. We lay off teachers...because that always gets the people with kids in school's attention...but we never seem to get around to cutting the massive administrative structure. Why is it jobs that didn't even EXIST forty years ago are suddenly so crucial that they stay while teachers are laid off?