Letter to the Editor
My name is Dolline Budke and I am a member of the Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA). I am a retired Texas public school employee and educated Texas children for 35 years; I taught high school mathematics and science.
I am asking for your support of Proposition 9 on the November General Election ballot. Prop 9, when passed, will provide the first cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) since 2004 for 420,000 Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) annuitants.
No Texas public-school employee who has retired since September 1, 2004, has ever received a COLA. That is 70% of TRS retirees! TRS annuitants are living on an average monthly annuity of just $2,174, though more than 140,000 receive $1,000 or less per month!
Inflation is the highest it has been in 40 years. A pension increase for TRS retirees is needed and is overdue! All TRS retirees are suffering from inflation; but longer-term retirees are hit hardest. Many are struggling to pay their bills and are making difficult choices about food and medicine. Prop 9 will provide a tremendous value to our retirees, which in turn will benefit our local economy.
Many of our family, friends, and neighbors also do not know that most retired teachers are not eligible to receive Social Security; therefore, a TRS pension is their primary source of income. The Social Security raises that helped so many recently were often not received by your community’s retired school personnel.
As a voter and taxpayer, you should know that when passed, Prop 9 will not create a tax increase! The Texas Legislature has already set aside the funds to make this happen with voter approval using surplus funds. In fact, Prop 9 has unanimous legislative support. Every single one of the members of the Texas Senate and House voted to support this much-needed retirement boost!
Please show your dedicated retired educators and the Texas Legislature that you support providing much-needed financial relief for TRS annuitants by voting for Prop 9.
Nearly 420,000 Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) public education retirees—teachers, administrative personnel, school bus drivers, nurses, cafeteria workers, and more—are set to receive their first cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in their retiree benefits in more than 10 years.
The Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA) endorses Proposition 9 for our retired educator professionals who dedicated decades of their lives to our school children. TRTA is the only organization in Texas that works to improve retirement security for TRS retirees!
In November, Texas voters can also support and help improve retirement security for our education retirees by voting FOR Prop 9.
Why should you vote FOR Prop 9? Most TRS retirees have NEVER had an increase! There has been no cost-of-living increase passed for public school retirees since 2013, which was capped at $100 per month and provided to only those who retired as of August 31, 2004.
Prop 9 won’t create a tax increase for you or any other Texas taxpayer! The Texas Legislature has already set aside the funds to make this happen with voter approval using surplus funds. All legislators in both the Texas Senate and House voted favorably to support this important endeavor.
One out of every 20 Texans is a member of TRS! Someone you know is a TRS retiree—a neighbor, a family member, or a friend.
The average TRS annuity is $2,174. TRS retirees, whose pensions cannot increase without legislative action, have struggled with financial decisions due to the onset of historically high inflation. Older retirees and those who retired a long time ago are hurting the most because their salaries were lower when they worked, and the impact of inflation over time is even more significant.
This cost-of-living increase is very important to TRS retirees, 95% of whom do not receive federal Social Security benefits like many other retirees. This includes earned as well as spousal benefits, as TRS retirees are subject to two federal provisions that drastically reduce or even eliminate their earned SS benefits (Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset)!
Prop 9, once passed, will provide a 2% increase for 150,000 TRS annuitants (those who retired between September 1, 2013 and August 31, 2020), a 4% increase for 195,000 TRS annuitants (those who retired between September 1, 2001 and August 31, 2013), and a 6% increase for 75,000 TRS annuitants (those who retired on or before August 31, 2001).
Forty-five years ago, the voters of Texas approved a constitutional spending cap that limits growth in appropriations from one biennium to the next. The total allocation needed to fund the cost-of-living increases for TRS annuitants adds up to $3.3 billion dollars, which exceeds the funding cap. In November, voters will be asked to give final approval for the expenditure, or it dies.
Three billion dollars is a lot of money. Texas has the funds to support the cost. The expenditure will provide a modest—but much-needed—cost-of-living increase for the oldest TRS retirees. Retirees will not be planning vacations with this increase, but they will be able to help pay for medications, groceries, electricity bills, home and car repairs, and other needs, while giving back to their local economies. The need is real, and your support is appreciated. Please vote in the November election and vote FOR Prop 9.