tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post1307670448954136974..comments2024-03-28T23:48:08.527-05:00Comments on Jackson Jambalaya: Will PERS Need More Money? Kingfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06184990110961727404noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-64516549805193680852019-10-11T08:36:18.755-05:002019-10-11T08:36:18.755-05:005:13 - Put on your thinking cap. We could eliminat...5:13 - Put on your thinking cap. We could eliminate 75% of the agencies and all but one county, roll all that work (and demands from the public) into one large county, one statewide school district, one police force and a handful of agencies and the same amount of work would be mandated and expected by the citizenry. That means the same number of people, or perhaps even more, with a tremendous bureaucracy at the top. Now, take off your cap and go back to playing pocket pool and watching wrestling. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-35077438252499177432019-10-10T17:13:55.539-05:002019-10-10T17:13:55.539-05:00So answer the questions. How many counties should ...So answer the questions. How many counties should Mississippi have? How many public universities? How many state agencies? How many local or regional special boards covering levees, drainage, water supply, etc? When you answer these questions you will have a different state workforce and a different PERS. You will have another social contract or philosophy of government. Read John Taylor of Caroline or the modern theorist, Theodore J. Lowi.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-43312463852996590672019-10-10T15:54:36.538-05:002019-10-10T15:54:36.538-05:0010:32 AM is what you call a "pseudo-intellect...10:32 AM is what you call a "pseudo-intellectual" which would define most leftists who derive their political opinions from propagandists like Vice or HBO.<br /><br />Ayn Rand is exactly like Mississippi. She projected herself as a prophet of individualism and self-sufficiency while subsisting off the generosity of others, including the state.<br /><br />I can think of no better definition of Mississippi.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-13879462360907723172019-10-10T14:43:05.402-05:002019-10-10T14:43:05.402-05:0010:32 - What makes you think 'county governmen...10:32 - What makes you think 'county government headcount is steady'? What makes you think state government head count is down, other than a guess? What has 'self government' got to do with PERS? <br /><br />Lay the crack pipe down and get some ice cream. It's snack-time. Chill. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-89951395166945402982019-10-10T10:32:07.897-05:002019-10-10T10:32:07.897-05:00Public employee footprint is a function of state a...Public employee footprint is a function of state and local government. State government head count is slightly down, I would guess. County government head count is steady. How many county governments would be operative if we modernized and consolidated them? Thirty? Twenty? How many community colleges or 'universities' would we have if we modernized them. A dozen? PERS hinges on our concept of self-government. Apparently we have the state and its subdivisions as the social contract. Any Rynd style is NOT Mississippi. Its fantasy land. Mississippi is a social democracy that is somewhat antiquated but very Jeffersonian.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-34994457975016731682019-10-10T07:37:48.726-05:002019-10-10T07:37:48.726-05:0011:41 is correct. Twenty percent (guesstimate) of ...11:41 is correct. Twenty percent (guesstimate) of participants never should have been 'let into' the system to begin with. Another example: County Supervisors. Another example: Town Aldermen who meet once a month. Another example: All these Deputy Directors that governors slide into various agencies. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-63798183046222320692019-10-09T19:45:21.557-05:002019-10-09T19:45:21.557-05:005:58 AM, I am making nothing up. If you would like...5:58 AM, I am making nothing up. If you would like to meet and go over all of my numbers, say so. We can arrange it. After we do, I will accept a "phuck you I am sorry" apology. Deal?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-37548832067866466412019-10-09T12:51:54.330-05:002019-10-09T12:51:54.330-05:008:52 said- "Our pension IS a defined benefit,...8:52 said- "Our pension IS a defined benefit, and is, in part, the sacrifice we make to work for the state. We make less money than we could in the private market for many reasons, but in part, due to the contributions that come out of our paychecks and also more than matched by our employers. If you want to brush off my comments as those from a deep blue liberal, I'm not. I'm a well educated conservative who only recently began service for the state"<br /><br />The part about making way less is such BS. If you can find a civilian job that pays more take it. The fact of the matter is that many (of course not all) public employees could not find a better job. They are public employees in part because of how difficult it is to fire them, how mediocre they can perform and have not other prospects. <br /><br />You should really get out more and see the type of service going on in the public sector. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-87786987039907710422019-10-09T12:43:36.380-05:002019-10-09T12:43:36.380-05:003:30- You are real smart aren't you?
Yes, bu...3:30- You are real smart aren't you? <br /><br />Yes, businesses do want to know the value of things down the road. Including a Tahoe if it part of a fleet program. <br /><br />It may come as a surprise to you but the value "down the road" is the basis for things like leasing, insurance, lottery payouts, prepaid tuition, retirement portfolios, reverse mortgages, etc.<br /><br />All of these things require you to make educated assumptions. Leave out the educated part and you run into problems. Regardless you must assume a rate of return, you can't use zero. <br /><br />Guess you think a budget is a waste of time and money too because who knows what you might want to spend a couple months from now.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-25674197716429927772019-10-09T11:41:35.139-05:002019-10-09T11:41:35.139-05:00We need to cut who is eligible for PERS first. Wh...We need to cut who is eligible for PERS first. Why should a mayor or alderman or any elected city/municipality employee be considered a state position? Most of them have jobs outside of their elected position. They come in, get elected for a few terms, and BAM, set for life. While the teachers and nurses other state employees worry if they are going to get their fair shake after 25 years.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-33769216246894979422019-10-09T10:42:07.328-05:002019-10-09T10:42:07.328-05:00@5:58 - If Applebees had existed 45 years ago, the...@5:58 - If Applebees had existed 45 years ago, they would not have paid $20,000 per year. A state employee making that salary 40-50 years ago or a little higher salary, was actually the norm. Sure, some made more....and some made way less, but that was probably a good average. I guess you would have to have been there. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-39516856736562003172019-10-09T10:31:50.504-05:002019-10-09T10:31:50.504-05:006:09 that's about the dumbest argument made as...6:09 that's about the dumbest argument made as to how to 'save' the system. I do realize that those public gubment employees promote this stupid idea because they want to protect their jobs with all their benefits. <br /><br />But to 'save' the system by hiring more public workers - claiming that their contribution (and of course never considered by the employees, but the increased amount of the tax dollars required due to these additional employees) will add to the funding does nothing to look at the long term impact that occurs when these more workers retire. And, with the state (or city, or county, or school district, or hospital) having to "match" the employee contribution with the now 17.5% tax dollars, your 'save' is nothing more than an additional expense into the system. <br /><br />And that ignores, of course, the benefits from reducing the number of government employees from the workforce. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-4169074620638704712019-10-09T10:06:08.302-05:002019-10-09T10:06:08.302-05:00Young-ish public university employee here. I'...Young-ish public university employee here. I'm 100% fine with significantly reducing COLA if it means funding the plan at a sustainable level. <br /><br />I'm looking for basic security in retirement, not free vacations every year. I have private investments for things like that. I'd say the vast majority of my peers feel the same way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-38407598358840910962019-10-09T09:48:02.883-05:002019-10-09T09:48:02.883-05:00@ 12:10...then you're doing it wrong@ 12:10...then you're doing it wrongAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-72494148096403738422019-10-09T08:52:58.574-05:002019-10-09T08:52:58.574-05:0010:48, isn't that a rather simplistic illustra...10:48, isn't that a rather simplistic illustration? After all, your pension comes not only from your contribution, but the much greater employer contribution made on your behalf, and invested, on our behalf, hopefully for our long term benefit. Our pension IS a defined benefit, and is, in part, the sacrifice we make to work for the state. We make less money than we could in the private market for many reasons, but in part, due to the contributions that come out of our paychecks and also more than matched by our employers. If you want to brush off my comments as those from a deep blue liberal, I'm not. I'm a well educated conservative who only recently began service for the state. I'm definitely concerned about the long term health of PERS. We all should be. But I don't think it's as black and white as some commenters want to make it. And by the way,I've been the recipient of a LOT of rude and unacceptable service the in private sector. I'm sure all of you have, too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-5043470463856747952019-10-09T08:34:50.482-05:002019-10-09T08:34:50.482-05:00PERS has to pay this killer while in prison,
http...PERS has to pay this killer while in prison,<br /><br />https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/2019/10/02/ms-man-convicted-dui-wife-killed-entitled-her-state-benefits-in-mississippi/3839732002/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-25917044123121757462019-10-09T08:18:12.952-05:002019-10-09T08:18:12.952-05:00@10:48 - You failed to account for the employer ma...@10:48 - You failed to account for the employer match percentage contributed along with your PERS contributions. And also any investment returns on yours and your employers contributions over the 10 years you worked. It may be in bad shape, but not as much so as your example portrays.<br /><br />I agree that PERS is in need of reform, as I myself have no expectation of receiving the pension as it stands now in 26 years when I would be eligible for full retirement. I’ll likely leave state employ much prior to that and rollover my contributions into something else. I know PERS loves the folks that do this because they get to keep the employer contribution portion and also not pay out at retirement, but I don’t have any faith that a pension will be in place when I become eligible for any portion of it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-63357325882147990912019-10-09T07:57:04.972-05:002019-10-09T07:57:04.972-05:00In a word, yes. I believe that the state should h...In a word, yes. I believe that the state should honor its commitment to current retirees and participants, offer a one-time buyout to current vested employees and modern retirement options to new employees and those who opt for the buyout. This will take courage and leadership on the part of the legislature and PERS board, which means it will probably never happen. <br /><br />I also think that there should be one retirement system for all public employees - no special carve-outs for legislators and troopers - BUT I would allow those in public safety roles (LE and Fire) to get full retirement benefits after 25 years, and non-sworn, non-first responders (sorry MEMA, you're not first responders) to get their benefits after 30 years. I'd also prohibit double dipping by troopers and legislators...<br /><br />Again, this will take courage and leadership, but this problem is not going to get better with time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-43217246016091082192019-10-09T05:59:29.157-05:002019-10-09T05:59:29.157-05:009:57....AGREE. Wish we had a "like" bu...9:57....AGREE. Wish we had a "like" button.<br /><br />More employees = bigger liability.<br /><br />I'll grant you this, more employees does move the day of reckoning our further into the future, but it does not make the funding level better.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-70175921690844350832019-10-09T05:58:02.681-05:002019-10-09T05:58:02.681-05:0010:48, the contribution rate for an employee is ab...10:48, the contribution rate for an employee is about 10%, so you are saying after 10 years you had contributed $20,600, therefore over a ten year period you are telling us you made $206,000, or $20,600 per year. I hope you had a wonderful career. <br /><br />Personally, I think you type too well to have only made $20k annually at the peak of your career. You should have signed on at Applebees. <br /><br />Or maybe you should quit making crap up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-8559951023440375182019-10-09T03:36:26.643-05:002019-10-09T03:36:26.643-05:00Intelligent Guy: You're not displaying intelli...Intelligent Guy: You're not displaying intelligence at all. Pointing out that reducing employees is antithetical to the notion of increased contributions is not at all the same as advocating for increasing employees. It's a fact that employee reduction seriously affects the amount added to the pudding. <br /><br />Pointing out to the screamers that firing people will solve nothing does not at all suggest the solution is to hire more people. Turn your cap around. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-66340265433079480882019-10-09T03:30:30.099-05:002019-10-09T03:30:30.099-05:00Well...There's the 'haircut goober' ag...Well...There's the 'haircut goober' again. <br /><br />What's the value of an 'assumed rate of return'. It signals guesswork, speculation, and has no ultimate value down the road. It's similar to the scare tactic of telling us all what an average funeral will cost in ten years. Or what the resale value of that Tahoe will be five years from now. <br /><br />Oh, WAIT! Just get rid of all state employees. <br /><br />Ignorance abounds. Fire Them All..noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-60726598531550291652019-10-09T00:10:18.750-05:002019-10-09T00:10:18.750-05:00I would kill to get a 7.5% return.I would kill to get a 7.5% return.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-24871430486022029332019-10-08T22:48:15.885-05:002019-10-08T22:48:15.885-05:00"Retired" after 10 years with COJ and ve..."Retired" after 10 years with COJ and vested in PERS. Total contributed to PERS during these 10 years = $20,600. At 60, began receiving $428/month. With COLA, after 8 years I now get $515/month. I am RECEIVING every year, more that 25% of the TOTAL amount I contributed. No wonder PERS is not solvent. Oh yeah. should i die before my wife does, she will get the same amount, with a 3% increase per year (COLA) until she dies. Again, NO WONDER IT IS BROKE.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-10313118429609537152019-10-08T22:04:54.542-05:002019-10-08T22:04:54.542-05:00Keep that mailbox money coming ever month babyKeep that mailbox money coming ever month babyEvery Day is Saturday except Sundaynoreply@blogger.com