Chair Talk

February 2007

I recently sent an e-mail to Susan Kant (Employee Benefits Director) inquiring into the status of the participation of retirees in the Voluntary Benefits program that is currently utilized by active employees. We were informed last fall that the programs cost savings would best be accomplished by pension deductions. The last word we had was that ORS could start this program and the pension deductions necessary by March or April of 2007. It would seem that if retirees were going to be offered the availability of this program that communications to retirees about Voluntary Benefits would be started soon.

Alvin Whitfield and I met with Dusty Fancher (Deputy Director Legislative Affairs Division) a member of Governor Granholm’s staff. The subject of the meeting was the financial plight of our pre-1986 retirees and the detrimental effect that the loss of the 13th check has caused them. This meeting came about as the result of the legislature passing HB 4735(2006) and the Governor signing the bill into law (PA 606). This bill involved increasing the pension amounts of older retirees in the State Police Retirement System. Alvin, John Bantjes and I felt that the pension increases for the older State Police retirees was somewhat the same as the increases we were seeking for our older retirees. In conversation with Dusty she indicated that she too thought they were somewhat similar.

After a lengthy meeting explaining our position Dusty said that she would pass the information up to the Governor’s policy staff. We further stated that we knew the Governor had quite a financial mess to contend with and that we were very concerned about maintaining our current health benefits. A copy of the Executive Summary that Alvin prepared for the meeting was given to Ms. Fancher. Copies of that Summary are available at today’s meeting and will be sent to the Chapter’s not in attendance.

I will be asking for a meeting with M. Scott Bowen the new Director of the Office of the State Employer. I believe that he will start his new appointment in March. I hope to meet to welcome him and acquaint him with SERA and informally discuss some of our concerns.

Several SERA members will be participating in the Legislative Day sponsored by RCC on Wednesday February 28, 2007. We will be discussing issues/concerns of SERA retirees.

Editor’s note: Bob Kopasz is Chair of the Michigan SERA Council. He may be reached at P.O. Box 692, Mt. Morris, MI 48458; phone 810/240-8380

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