Welcome to the latest edition of This Week in Pensions! We have gathered the best stories about pensions and retirement security from the previous week. You need to know this news in the fight for a secure retirement.
NPPC Election News
The upcoming November 5th General Election will have an immense impact on public pensions. As we await – and work to shape – the results, we remain vigilant about the very implications Project 2025 could have on our public institutions. Potentially weakening labor support and retirement security, this extremist initiative is especially alarming considering the unprecedented labor strikes in 2023 and 2024. In the States, we are keeping a keen eye on several races in Alaska, particularly in Fairbanks and Anchorage, where the opportunity to revive the pension system hinges on retaining Senator Scott Kawasaki and electing former State Representative Chuck Kopp to replace the incumbent. We are also closely monitoring the potential for majority shifts in Michigan, where another term of pro-labor legislative majorities would aid pension expansion efforts, and in Arizona, where voters will decide on a whopping 13 ballot initiatives this year, shaping the future of the Grand Canyon state in a myriad of consequential ways.
Workers file lawsuit to restore benefits to levels before pension reform
Five government employees are suing New Hampshire over promised retirement benefits that were later unconstitutionally withheld.
The Concord Monitor reports that a police officer, a firefighter, and two active and one retired corrections employees have filed a class action lawsuit, alleging that the retirement calculation for their pensions has been changed and violated the U.S. and New Hampshire constitutions.
The New Hampshire Group II Retirement Coalition was formed in response to these cuts, which impacted scores of first responders, including firefighters, nurses, police, corrections, and parole officers, who were forced to work longer careers with lesser pensions than their predecessors. The organization has advocated for the restoration of pensions and benefits they maintain were promised to them at the time of hire, which would allow them to retire after 20 years of service with pensions calculated based on their top three earning years.
These changes were implemented in 2011 to allegedly address the pension system’s 57% funded status. Since then, the funding ration has increased to 67.5%, largely due to the sacrifices of public sector workers. This shows the danger of overreacting to concerns about Unfunded Actuarial Liability (UAL). Yet, many New Hampshire public workers’ retirements now face unnecessary uncertainty.
Prosecutors and defenders ask for pension upgrades to aid recruitment, retention
Facing an attorney shortage, prosecutors and public defenders in Indiana pitched changes to the state pension plan.
The Indiana Capital Chronicle reported that lawmakers were pitched on changing the COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) to be comparable to what judges receive. The Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council’s Chris Daniels said prosecutors’ offices around the state are “becoming so overwhelmed” that they “can’t handle” caseloads.
Daniels said prosecutors struggle to keep their deputies because of low pay, unlimited caseloads, and “emotionally heavy and stressful” subject matter. Experienced prosecutors, he said, often leave public service for higher-paid private-sector work, leaving a gap in the community.
A public safety crisis is avoidable with proper incentives to keep these workers in courtrooms. With the lack of public defenders to deal with ever-increasing caseloads, some fear a presumed innocent person could go months without a hearing due to a lack of counsel. In Milwaukee, a defendant was charged in July and was not appointed a public defender until September.
The pay disparity between the public and private sectors is significant in the field of law. The benefits of government work, including superior health care and defined benefit pensions, are intended to offset private sector advantages in base take-home pay. To prevent critical failings of public safety, recruitment must be as strong as possible, and a robust defined benefit pension plan is the best way to accomplish this.
Be sure to check back next Friday for the latest news in the fight for a secure retirement! For now, sign up for NPPC News Clips to receive daily pension news from across the country directly to your inbox.