Bill # Sponsor Description Comments HB 1 Reed Reduction in KY Income Tax Rate: ·      Reduces the individual income tax to 4.5% for taxable years beginning January 1, 2023, and to 4% for taxable years beginning January 1, 2024. ·      Passed out of House 79-19 on 1/5/23   HB13 King Bus Driver CDL Physical Exam […]

Greetings KRTA Members: Part II of the 2023 General Assembly kicked off this week as expected with many bills being filed. Beau Barnes, Deputy Secretary of Operations and General Counsel for TRS, testified before two committees this week.  On Tuesday, he testified before the House Education Committee on the number of retirees in 2022.  The […]

TRS is accountable to its members Since TRS is independently managed, the fiduciary responsibility of the retirement system remains exclusively accountable to the system’s members. TRS is administered by an 11-member Board of Trustees, of which a seven are elected by TRS members. The Kentucky Education Commissioner and State Treasurer serve as board members, and […]

Greetings KRTA Members: I hope you and your loved ones are staying safe during these unprecedented times. The 2020 legislative session wrapped up this week with the General Assembly overriding all of Gov. Andy Beshear’s line-item vetoes, which resulted in the passing of a one-year budget (HB352). Coming into this legislative session, KRTA’s four main […]

The budget passed by the General Assembly provides the actuarially required contribution to the Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS) and fully funds the medical insurance fund. However, the ‘fine print’ requires contributing lower amounts to the Teachers’ Retirement System to deal with the expected shortfall in state revenue. It also requires that any monies above the […]

Lexington Herald Leader – 4/13/2020 (reprinted) By Jack Brammer Click here to view the full article Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear vetoed parts of budget bills Monday, saying he wanted to ensure that he has the flexibility to continue Kentucky’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. His vetoes came a day before lawmakers are to return to […]

Greetings KRTA Members: I hope all of you and your loved ones are staying safe during these unprecedented times. The Budget Conference committee is scheduled to meet later this afternoon to finalize the budget. As you know, the Senate Budget including no funding to the TRS Health Insurance Fund over the next two years despite […]

Dear KRTA Members, First, I hope this finds you safe and well during these trying times. I thank those of you who have been reaching out to our membership base for wellness checks and to offer support. It is moments like these that I’m proudest to work with this caring group of retired educators. I […]

Lexington Herald Leader – 3/23/2020 (reprinted) By John Cheves Click here to view the full article A possible $1.13 billion cut in state funding for Kentucky teacher pensions — as Republican state senators propose in their two-year budget plan — would create “a very serious problem” for the $20.4 billion pension fund, one official said Monday. “If […]

During a national crisis, when thousands of current and retired teachers are assisting their communities, the Kentucky Senate has passed a budget designed extort current and retired teachers by threatening to withhold $1.1 billion in actuarially required funding to the Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS) unless the General Assembly enacts pension reform by August 1, 2020. […]

The proposal by the Kentucky Senate to hold Teacher Retirement System (TRS) funds hostage in exchange for pension benefit cuts for new teachers is bad public policy for educators and the taxpayers. During this national crisis, the Kentucky Senate budget presents a last minute deal to extort current and retired teachers into accepting a last […]

The budget proposed by the Kentucky Senate completely ignores the state’s fiscal obligation to Kentucky Teachers Retirement System and the TRS Medical Insurance Fund During these unprecedented times, I want to extend my thoughts and prayers to all of you and your families. We teachers are tough bunch, and I’m confident we will get through […]

Please Call and Urge Your Legislators Not to Gamble with Healthcare Funding Greetings KRTA Members, The Kentucky General Assembly is scheduled to return to session next Tuesday. Of course, in light of events, that is subject to change. The budget proposed by the House only includes one-year of funding for the Medical Insurance Fund. The […]

Dear KRTA Members, In an attempt to be proactive regarding the coronavirus threat, it might be prudent if you avoid gatherings of people for a while. We are in uncharted territory regarding this coronavirus situation. Each day we are seeing more and more cases across the commonwealth. Our membership is at the highest risk for […]

New Bill Filed by Rep. Jerry Miller – HB576 Late last night, Rep. Jerry Miller filed House Bill 576 (HB 576) a pension reform bill. We are currently reviewing the bill in detail to understand both the intended and unintended consequences of the legislation. From our conversations with Rep. Miller, it is modeled after HB504, […]

Last night, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear unveiled his budget to the General Assembly. This is the first step in a long and arduous process that is required to finalize and approve a budget for our government over the next two fiscal years. This proposed budget now goes to the General Assembly, where many details and […]

USA Today – 5/20/2018 (reprinted) By Deborah Yetter, Louisville Courier Journal Click here to view the full article   As a young teacher, Lauri Wade didn’t think much about the fact that in Kentucky, public school teachers are not eligible for Social Security benefits upon retirement. “When you’re in your early 20s, you don’t think […]

Saporta Report – 11/18/2019 (reprinted) By Tom Baxter Click here to view the full article You can’t blame Donald Trump for everything, or give him all the credit either. Trump’s opponents have trumpeted Democratic victories in the Kentucky and Louisiana governor’s races as a personal defeat for the president because he campaigned for Republicans Matt […]

Governing.com – 6/12/2019 (reprinted) By Max Marchitello – Contributor, a senior analyst at Bellwether Education Partners Click here to view the full article West Virginia’s experience offers lessons in what states can do to provide retirement systems that benefit educators and taxpayers alike. Nationally, increases in teachers’ pension and post-retirement health care costs are outpacing growth in […]

NRTA, AARP via Vimeo – 7/26/2019 (reprinted) Click here to view the full article Tim Abrams talks with the NRTA, which is the AARP’s Educator Community.

Lexington Herald-Leader – 7/26/2019 (reprinted) By Valarie Honeycutt Spears Click here to view the full article The shortage of substitute teachers in Fayette County has left one of those educators so concerned about the effects on students that she approached school board members at their Oct. 28 meeting. “I have been frustrated,” substitute teacher Kiah […]

Lexington Herald-Leader – 7/26/2019 (reprinted) By Valarie Honeycutt Spears Click here to view the full article Ryan Brown taught high school in Rowan and Montgomery County for three years before he left the teaching profession in May because he thought the current climate “was very troublesome.” While Brown had school administrators who offered as much […]

Lexington Herald-Leader – 11/14/2019 (reprinted) By John Cheves Click here to view the full article Nurses of the Garrard County Health Center voice concern about keeping their pensions in light of a new pension law that provided incentives for quasi-governmental entities to exist the state pension system. BY MARCUS DORSEY Gov. Matt Bevin and the General Assembly […]

On November 7 Tim Abrams joined The Bill Cunningham Show, which airs weekdays 12p-3p on Cincinnati’s News Radio 700WLW The discussion covers reaction to the Kentucky Governor’s race, the general state of pension reform talks, and the shortage of teachers throughout Kentucky among other things. Tim’s segment runs about for about 17 minutes at the […]

PDK Poll – 08/05/2019 (reprinted) Click here to view the full article Broad discontent leads half of teachers to consider quitting their jobs. Download the complete 2019 PDK poll report Frustrated by poor pay and underfunded schools, half of public school teachers nationally have seriously considered leaving the profession in the past few years — […]

WAVE3 News – 08/02/2019 (reprinted) By Gil McClanahan Click here to view the full article LAWRENCE COUNTY, Ky. (WCHS/WVAH) — Summer vacation is quickly coming to an end for some Kentucky students. Wednesday the school year begins in several districts, including Lawrence County. On Tuesday morning, teachers and staff had a pep rally because Wednesday […]

WAVE3 News – 08/02/2019 (reprinted) By David Nichols Click here to view the full article LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) – The credit rating agency Moody’s has released its thoughts on a new law crafted by Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin and passed by the General Assembly in a special session last month. A Sector Comment published by […]

LEX18 News – 08/07/2019 (reprinted) By David Nichols Click here to view the full article LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — With students heading back to classrooms across the state, Kentucky is facing a major teacher shortage. In fact, Kentucky education officials say more than 2,000 positions remain unfilled. Officials are working to address the shortage […]

Forbes – 10/30/2018 (reprinted) By Diane Oakley Click here to view the full article Management consulting firm McKinsey reports that organizations that appear on “best places to work” lists often make the cut because their business strategy is premised on a long-term relationship with their employees. McKinsey credits companies for both the large and small signals sent […]

Lane Report – 07/24/2019 (reprinted) Click here to view the full article FRANKFORT, Ky. — Five options for over 100 quasi-governmental agencies in Kentucky to get a handle on their rising pension costs have passed the Kentucky General Assembly in a five-day special session. The options found in House Bill 1 would allow the state’s […]

WYMT Mountain News – 07/18/2019 (reprinted) by The Associated Press Click here to view the full article FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP/WKYT) – Governor Matt Bevin has formally set the agenda for a special legislative session that begins Friday. The lone issue in his proclamation on Thursday is pension relief for regional universities and quasi-governmental agencies strapped […]

Palm Beach Daily News – 02/01/2019 (reprinted) by William Kelly Click here to view the full article The town is fast-tracking efforts to stop an exodus of police and firefighters leaving for other agencies that offer better pay and benefits. A consultant’s study, comparing compensation of town employees to the local market, is weeks away from completion. That’s […]

Courier Journal – 05/09/2019 (reprinted) by Tom Loftus Click here to view the full article   FRANKFORT — The Bevin administration illegally withheld from public release an actuarial analysis of the governor’s original “Keeping the Promise” plan to reform Kentucky’s troubled pension system, Franklin Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd ruled Thursday. Moreover, Shepherd, who was able […]

National Institute on Retirement Security – March 2019 (excerpts reprinted) by Diane Oakley and Kelly Kenneally Click here to view the full article Executive Summary Changes to the U.S. retirement system during the past several decades have put retirement in peril for most working Americans. When all working individuals are considered, the typical American has […]

Forbes – 04/24/2013 (reprinted) by John Wasik Click here to view the full article Last night’s “Frontline” show on PBS did Americans a great service. It showed the folly of the 401(k) structure, which has been a problem for decades. Unfortunately, while Frontlne’s Martin Smith and his many great guests focused on costs (too high), […]

NEA Today – 03/23/12 (reprinted) by Cindy Long Click here to view the full article Pensions provide secure – and higher — retirement benefits. Longtime friends Brenda Brum and Dolores Townsend have a lot in common. They both like antiquing and poking around flea markets. They both care for an elderly parent. They both taught […]

The Atlantic – 10/16/2015 (reprinted) by Teresa Ghilarducci Click here to view the full article Most people think IRAs and 401(k)s have pretty much recovered from deep losses in 2008. They haven’t. The morbid joke about the Great Recession was that it turned Americans’ 401(k)s into 201(k)s. Indeed, the nation’s 401(k)s and IRAs lost about […]

As the 2019 General Assembly winds down, we hope a new day of collaboration is ahead. I know that by working collaboratively, retired teachers, legislators and other education groups can accomplish great things. Collaboration has worked well in the past, and I am confident it will work well in the future to help protect the […]

In the waning days of the 2019 General Assembly, Kentucky’s retired teachers once again showed great resolve throughout the week advocating for their financial security, as well as the financial security of future retired teachers in the state. Your calls and emails in recent days have made a BIG difference in moving HB 58 and […]

Lex18 – 3/04/2019 (reprinted) By Melissa Ratliff Click here to view the full article FRANKFORT, Ky. (LEX 18 )- Teachers filled the annex at the State Capitol Monday evening in anticipation of the state house voting on HB 525, a bill which would change the general administration and management of the Teachers Retirement System Board […]

KRTA members and supporters are asked to call and leave one of the following two messages, or both, Monday morning. House Bill 525 was passed out of committee and is due for consideration in the House on Monday afternoon. Members are also encouraged to attend the vote on Monday in Frankfort to voice their opposition. […]

Lex18 – 2/27/2019 (reprinted) By Melissa Ratliff Click here to view the full article FRANKFORT, Ky. (LEX 18)- A House Bill could change the structure of the Teachers’ Retirement System Board of Trustees. HB 525 was filed by Republican Representative Ken Upchurch of the 52nd district. The bill seeks to change the general administration and […]

HB 58 was recently introduced in the General Assembly. This bill is designed to raise the state-tax exclusion for pension income from $31,110 to $41,110 and retroactively apply to this exclusion to the 2018 tax year. This bill also would require the Kentucky Department of Revenue to automatically issue any applicable refunds. If you recall, […]

WDRB – 2/21/2019 (reprinted) By Kevin Wheatley Click here to view the full article and video coverage FRANKFORT, Ky. (WDRB) – A sponsor of a pension bill that would alter benefits for future teachers while keeping them in a defined-benefit retirement plan said Thursday that he believes support from educators will be pivotal for the […]

WCHS News – 2/18/2019 (reprinted) By Gil McClanahan Click here to view the full article The Public Pension Working Group made up of Kentucky lawmakers have suspended their meetings until after General Assembly session ends. (COURTESY: KY Educational Television) FRANKFORT, Ky (WCHS/WVAH) — The Public Pension Working Group, the bi-partisan group of Kentucky lawmakers charged […]

The second part of the 2019 legislative session began on Feb. 2 and the first week of the session ended on Friday afternoon. Just like every year, legislators have filed hundreds of bills that both houses will consider. KRTA will continue to focus on our core mission as an organization, which is to look out […]

Spectrum News – 1/24/2019 (reprinted) By Michon Lindstrom Click here to view the full article FRANKFORT- It was the educators turn to testify in front of the Public Pension Working Group. The five organizations had a chance to give their recommendations on how to help fix Kentucky’s troubled pension systems. Kentucky Education Association, Kentucky Retired […]

The 2019 General Assembly has kicked off and KRTA staff and volunteers were in Frankfort early last week meeting with newly elected legislators, legislative leadership, and veteran legislators. Late Friday afternoon Senate President Robert Stivers and House Speaker David Osborne announced a panel to “conduct a review of the pension systems’ structures, costs, benefits and […]

National Institute on Retirement Security – January 2019 (reprinted) By Ilana Boivie Click here to view the full article Click to Download Report Download State Fact Sheets Read Press Release Watch Webinar Download PowerPoint Report Details Economic gains attributable to defined benefit (DB) pensions in the U.S. are substantial. Retiree spending of pension benefits in […]

The 2019 General Assembly has kicked off and KRTA staff and volunteers were in Frankfort early last week meeting with newly elected legislators, legislative leadership, and veteran legislators. Late Friday afternoon Senate President Robert Stivers and House Speaker David Osborne announced a panel to “conduct a review of the pension systems’ structures, costs, benefits and […]

WPSD Local 6 – 1/11/2019 (reprinted) By Associated Press Click here to view the full article FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — After a tumultuous year of failed attempts to change one of the country’s worst-funded public pension systems, Kentucky’s Republican-controlled legislature is hitting the reset button. Lawmakers on Friday announced a bipartisan “pension working group” to […]

Herald Leader – 4/9/2018 (reprinted) OpEd By Shirley Wolf, KRTA President Click here to view the full article The Kentucky Supreme Court recently ruled that Senate Bill 151 — the wastewater/pension bill adopted by the General Assembly during the last legislative session — was unconstitutional. This decision should not be construed as a victory for […]

The Kentucky Supreme Court’s decision today to overturn Senate Bill 151 provides the citizens of our state with a unique opportunity to put aside partisan rhetoric and come together to craft a legislative solution to our current pension issues, one that insures dignified retirement for the thousands of our retired school teachers and those who […]

To download full file click here: PDF  |  Word Doc The Kentucky Teacher’s Retirement System (TRS) is independent from the Kentucky Retirement System (KRS) and the other state retirement systems. TRS is not associated with Kentucky’s other retirement systems. TRS has its own investment and administrative management structure and an independent board of directors. Many […]

In an effort to keep our membership informed, we encourage you to participate in AARP’s Town Hall via telephone. This is a non-partisan informational session. It is as easy as clicking on the link below and filling out the information. Critical issues are on the line in the midterm elections. State pensions, family caregiving, and […]

VOTE!  The Stakes Couldn’t Be Higher The midterm elections are just a few days away, and the votes of retired teachers couldn’t be more important. The pension reform bill passed by the state legislature this year is before the Kentucky Supreme Court, and that means we could see another pension battle in 2019. And retiree […]

While the Kentucky Retired Teachers Association (KTRA) does not specifically endorse candidates, we do take legislative positions designed to protect the interests of our current and future members. We offer our members a list of 10 questions to ask candidates for state to determine if these candidates are aligned with the interests of KRTA and […]

Listen to the audio here:     Read the full transcript of the interview below: Pat Crowley:  Hello, I am Patrick Crowley with the Kentucky Retired Teachers Association. Today we are joined by Christian Weller. He’s a professor of public policy at the McCormick Graduate School of Policy and Global Solutions at The University of […]

Dear KRTA Members: Hope you are having a wonderful summer with your families and loved ones. If you haven’t already heard, the Sewer Bill which was stripped and replaced with pension reform at the end of the 2018 legislative session was deemed unconstitutional by Franklin Circuit Court Judge Phillip Shepherd. In his 34-page ruling, Judge […]

KRTA- Express June 2018

KRTA- Express May 2018

Listen to the audio here:   Nari Rhee, Ph.D., is Director of the Retirement Security Program at the UC Berkeley Center for Labor Research and Education. Her current research focuses on the retirement crisis facing California and the US in the context of declining pension coverage, and policies to improve the retirement income prospects of […]

PR Newswire – 4/11/2018 (reprinted) By Center for State and Local Government Excellence Click here to view the full article A new research brief that explores the impacts of public pension reform from 2005 to 2014 suggests that cuts to pension benefits have reduced the ability of public sector employers to compete with private sector […]

Courier Journal – 4/9/2018 (reprinted) By Tom Loftus and Morgan Watkins Click here to view the full article FRANKFORT, Ky. — Gov. Matt Bevin on Monday vetoed both the state budget bill and the tax bill that his fellow Republicans in control of the Kentucky House and Senate passed a week ago. “The budget has […]

Gov. Bevin’s veto of House Bill 200 and Senate Bill 366 are a setback to public education in Kentucky. While these bills are far from perfect, it fully funds TRS the next two years and addresses important KRTA legislative priorities, including allocating $59.5 million in Fiscal Year 2019 from the general fund to cover the […]

  Statement from Tim Abrams, Executive Director of KRTA We hope you and your families had a wonderful Easter weekend. We have received many calls asking about the impact of the legislation that was recently passed. As you know, much of this legislation was thrust upon us at the last minute, so it took us […]

We are still in process of analyzing the 291-page pension-reform amendment that yesterday was unexpectedly tacked-on to a sewage wastewater bill, which was passed by both chambers of the General Assembly late last night. Based on our initial review of the bill, it retains cost-of-living adjustments for all current and future retired teachers. Our biggest […]

US News & World Report – 3/29/2018 (reprinted) By Associated Press Click here to view the full article Republican lawmakers in Kentucky have resurrected a bill to overhaul one of the nation’s worst-funded pension systems. Republican lawmakers in Kentucky have resurrected a bill to overhaul one of the nation’s worst-funded pension systems. The 291-page proposal […]

Herald Leader – 3/29/2019 (reprinted) By By Daniel Sesrochers, John Cheves and Jack Brammer Click here to view the full article Republicans uncorked a surprise 291-page proposal Thursday afternoon to overhaul Kentucky’s ailing public pension systems and gave it final approval hours later as the chants of angry teachers echoed through the Capitol late into […]

We are in the final days. Your calls, emails, and contacts with your legislators have never been so important as we enter the final days of the 2018 General Assembly. Since the House and Senate budget are quite different, a conference committee has been formed to iron out the final budget. Please call your legislator […]

Hearld Leader – 3/21/2018 (reprinted) By Daniel Desrochers Click here to view the full article People who oppose a bill to overhaul Kentucky’s ailing pension systems are trying to destroy the state, Gov. Matt Bevin said Tuesday. “Right now, they’re only hearing from the angry people who want to destroy what’s good for this state,” […]

The Hill – 3/21/2018 (reprinted) By Deborah Murrell, Opinion Contributor Click here to view the full article I know all eyes are on Washington these days, watching to see what the Trump administration and Congress will do next. But retired teachers in Kentucky, and in other states across the country, are focused a little closer […]

Courier-Journal – 3/16/2018 (reprinted) By Joseph Gerth, Opinion Columnist Click here to view the full article I got to thinking about what Gov. Matt Bevin said on Wednesday about all the “selfish” teachers in Kentucky public schools. You know the ones he’s talking about. The ones who are so self-centered that they don’t want to […]

The advocacy of retired teachers is inspiring and making a difference for a better Kentucky and stronger public schools. Keep visiting Frankfort and keep the legislative message line ringing during the remaining days of the 2018 General Assembly It is anticipated the Senate version of the budget will be released early next week. It is […]

Out-of-state, politically motivated “dark money” groups are now funding robocalls in Kentucky that tell citizens that they will face higher taxes if they do not support Senate Bill 1, the pension-reform bill. “dark money” groups receive unlimited donations from corporations, individuals, and others to influence elections and legislation, but they are not required to disclose […]

Herald-Leader – 3/15/2018 (reprinted) By Jack Brammer Click here to view the full article Kentucky Senate Republicans opposed to a controversial public pension overhaul bill are being targeted by a national conservative group that says it is “proud” to stand with Gov. Matt Bevin in support of the bill. FreedomWorks, based in Washington, D.C., this […]

Kentucky Today – 3/08/2018 (reprinted) By Mark Wohlander Click here to view the full article At the risk of offending the proponents of pension reform to the Kentucky Teachers’ Retirement System, let me share a quote from George Washington about the importance of education. In December of 1784, Washington wrote, “[t]he best means of forming […]

By: Allen J. Schuler, KRTA legislative volunteer So, your car stops running. You have it towed to the nearest service station where the mechanic insists he must remove and rebuild the engine. You HAVE to have an operating car in order to get to work. At great expense—to you—the engine is overhauled and reinstalled, yet […]

By Tim Abrams, Executive Director of Kentucky Retired Teachers Association We are in the home stretch, so keep the pressure on and finish strong! Your voice is working!!!! Our momentum is tremendous, don’t slow up!!!! Even though we don’t have millions of dollars in “Dark Money” we have our voices and we have the best […]

Kentuckians love basketball and we love March Madness. This year March Madness arrived a day early in Frankfort. On Wednesday, February 28 KRTA members filled committee rooms and the hallways of the Capitol Annex. Reporters who have covered the General Assembly for over 30 years said they have never seen a crowd like that for a committee meeting.  […]

Pension Trustee Advisors (PTA) has conducted a review of the proposed changes to the pension and retiree healthcare benefits for current and future Kentucky public employees under Senate Bill 1 on behalf of the Kentucky Public Pension Coalition. While the recommendations include adequate funding of the retirement systems, the changes to the pension benefits proposed […]

WCPO Cincinnati – 2/28/2018 (reprinted) By Bruce Schreiner | Associated Press Click here to view the full article FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Retired public school teachers and their allies crammed into a legislative committee hearing in an election-year show of force against a public pension overhaul that Kentucky lawmakers began reviewing Wednesday. A Republican-led Senate […]

by Allen J. Schuler, Retired Teacher Finally, the other shoe has dropped. Since October, when the first pension “reform” proposal fell upon pensioners like a meat cleaver, we’ve been waiting for a new proposal. Late Tuesday, February 20, the state legislative leadership cabal that worked in secret for weeks on a new “reform” bill, came […]

Senator Joe Bowen’s office has confirmed that the plan is to hear SB 1 in the Senate’s State and Local Government Committee meeting next Wednesday, February 28 at noon in room 154 of the Capital Annex.  Members of the Senate State Government Committee are as follows: Joe Bowen [Chair] Sen. Stan Humphries [Vice Chair] Sen. […]

Reprinted from the Herald Leader. Click here to view the article. By John Cheves and Daniel Desrochers The newly-filed Senate Bill 1 eventually would eliminate Kentucky’s unfunded public pension liabilities — estimated at $40 billion to $60 billion, depending on whom you ask — while saving the state $4.8 billion, legislative leaders said Wednesday at a Capitol […]

  While we applaud Frankfort for recognizing that switching to a defined contribution plan would be disastrous for both retired teachers and Kentucky taxpayers, we still are extremely concerned about certain provisions in SB1 that essentially shore up the pension fund on the backs of our current and retired teachers. This is especially disappointing in […]

Listen to the audio here:   The National Institute on Retirement Security is a not for profit organization that does nonpartisan research to address what a quality retirement means for employees, employers and the economy. Diane Oakley, Executive Director at NIRS joins Pat Crowley, a former Kentucky journalist and current representative for the Kentucky Retired […]

Lexington Herald-Leader – 2/14/2018 (reprinted) Editorial by Tom Eblen Click here to view the full article Corporations have spent four decades taking traditional pensions away from most American workers. Now they and their allies want to do the same to school teachers and other public employees. Kentuckians recently got a reminder that efforts to replace […]

Lexington Herald-Leader – 2/13/2018 (reprinted) Editorial by Herald-Leader Editorial Board Click here to view the full article Lawmakers balking at the idea of moving Kentucky’s public employees into individual retirement accounts have a solid reason for their reluctance: The change would cost taxpayers more, and the outcomes would be worse. Bravo then to the House Republicans […]

Spectrum News – 2/08/2018 (reprinted) by Don Weber Click here to view the full article FRANKFORT – We’re nearly 30 days through the 2018 General Assembly session, and everyone is still waiting for a pension bill to surface. Many Kentuckians and some legislators are surprised that, after not being able to address the issue in a […]

Courier-Journal – 1/29/2018 (reprinted) by Grace Schneider Click here to view the full article Take a look at a few things that teachers object to in proposed pension reform in Kentucky. Mary Ann Gerth/Louisville Courier Journal Jan Taylor strolled into a classroom in Trimble County in her mid-20s and discovered she’d found her calling. Working with young children […]

Richmond Register – 1/23/2018 (reprinted) by Ronnie Ellis Click here to view the full article When Carla Breeding thought last summer about retiring as a public school administrator, she considered the financial needs of her two adoptive children, ages 13 and 15. Breeding, 55, taught for 33 years, 27 of them in Kentucky, teaching special […]

Herald Leader – 1/23/2018 (reprinted) by John Cheves Click here to view the full article Members of the General Assembly are getting an earful from the 8,554 retired teachers younger than 65 whose health insurance costs could quadruple under Republican Gov. Matt Bevin’s two-year budget proposal, which would end the $145 million state subsidy that keeps their coverage […]

Courier Journal – 1/26/2018 (reprinted) by Tom Loftus Click here to view the full article FRANKFORT, Kentucky – Many retired teachers would pay thousands of dollars per year more for health insurance under Gov. Matt Bevin’s proposed 2018-20 state budget, say advocates for retired teachers. While Bevin’s proposed budget fully funds pension benefits for teachers […]

Spectrum News – 1/22/2018 (reprinted) by Nick Storm Click here to view the full article FRANKFORT — Majority Floor Leader Jonathan Shell, R-Lancaster, expects leaders from the House and Senate to reach an agreement on a pension reform proposal in the coming weeks. Currently the House and Senate leaders are making tweaks to the legislation, […]

While the budget funds the pension system, as required by law, the Bevin Administration is proposing stripping $54 million from retired teacher’s health care. This is beyond devastating for a retired teacher on a fixed income, putting the financial livelihood of thousands of retired teachers in real jeopardy if this budget is enacted. These cuts […]

neaToday – 9/24/2014 (reprinted) by Mary Ellen Flannery Click here to view the full article Public pensions are under attack across the U.S. From Arizona to Florida, state governors and legislators have been moving to cut pension benefits for retired teachers and other public employees, and enroll new workers in 401K-style “defined contribution” funds instead […]

Cincinnati Enquirer – 10/24/17 (reprinted) by Scott Wartman Click here to view the full article EDGEWOOD – Hundreds of teachers filled a gymnasium in Northern Kentucky on Tuesday night. They weren’t there for basketball. They were there to save their pension plans. Faced with a $40 billion shortfall in the state’s pension system, Kentucky Gov. […]

Juneau Empire – 3/28/2017 (reprinted) by James Brooks Click here to view the full article A push to revive Alaska’s public pension system is under way in the state House of Representatives, where a Juneau lawmaker has suggested a measure that would directly affect more than 41,000 people statewide. Rep. Sam Kito III, D-Juneau, held […]

Kentucky Center for Economic Policy – 8/22/2017 (reprinted) by Kenny Colston Click here to view the full article A new report released today by the Kentucky Public Pension Coalition (KPPC) shows how switching to a 401(k)-type retirement plan (also known as a defined contribution system) will not help Kentucky’s pension funding challenge but make it harder to […]

89.3 WFPL – 11/01/2017 (reprinted) by Ryland Barton Click here to view the full article As Kentucky lawmakers consider moving most future and thousands of current workers into 401(k)-style retirement plans, the commonwealth can look to a few other states that have had to address pension issues in the wake of the recession. Many states […]

National Institute on Retirement Security – 10/26/2017 (reprinted) by Kelly Kenneally Click here to view the full article WASHINGTON, D.C., October 26, 2017 –  A new report finds that defined benefit (DB) teacher pension plans work for both schools and teachers, and that there are important policy reasons to continue offering these retirement plans. The research […]

Listen to the audio here:   William “Flick” Fornia, President of Pension Trustee Advisors, one of the nation’s leading actuaries, sits down to discuss Kentucky lawmakers’ proposed changes to the pension system with Pat Crowley, a former Kentucky journalist and current representative for the Kentucky Retired Teachers Association. The discussion includes how a failure to […]

Los Angeles Times – 8/21/2015 (reprinted) by Michael Hiltzik Click here to view the full article Amid the nationwide panic over the rising costs of public employee pensions, one proposed solution is nearly universal: States and municipalities should shutter their traditional defined benefit plans and place all new employees in a 401(k)-style defined contribution plan […]

Dr. Robert “Bob” Wagoner, age 66 of New Castle passed away Tuesday, January 9, 2018. Bob was a native of Sellersburg, Clark County, Indiana. Bob was a member of the Eminence Baptist Church and was the son of the late Vernon & Mildred (Kopp) Wagoner. He began his tenure with KRTA on January 1, 2002 […]

Spectrum News – 1/2/2018 (reprinted) by Don Weber Click here to view the full article FRANKFORT – Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, feels that the General Assembly must get a pension reform bill together as soon as possible. Thayer, who supported Gov. Matt Bevin’s original plan, believes that both the House and Senate […]

Tweeting at your legislators repeatedly can be one of the most effective ways to ensure your opinion heard and not forgotten. Many public officials manage their own Twitter accounts, rather than having their staff do so. This means that tweets directed at those legislators are more likely to be heard and considered. Check out the […]

Dear Supporter, We just wanted to take a moment to express our sincere gratitude for supporting our efforts in 2017 to protect retired teachers. Your support and voices halted unfair and poorly-crafted pension legislation that would harm the financial security of Kentucky’s teachers. The 2018 legislative session is right around the corner, and we will […]

Statement from Kentucky Retired Teachers Association (KRTA) Executive Director Tim Abrams regarding Attorney General opinion on COLA and inviolable contract: Today’s opinion by Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear that proposed changes to the COLA formula would violate state law and Kentucky’s inviolable contract with participants in the state’s public pension confirms what the KRTA and […]

Associated Press via US News and World Report – 5/24/2017 (reprinted) by David Eggert Click here to view the full article Legislative economists estimate that it would cost $410 million in the first year to close Michigan’s pension system to newly hired teachers and instead provide them a 401(k) only. LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Making […]

Herald-Leader – 10/10/2017 (reprinted) Op-Ed by David Haney Click here to view the full article Gov. Matt Bevin and the Kentucky legislature are about to make a terrible mistake with the pension plans of public employees — one that West Virginia made. Switching newly hired public employees to a defined contribution 401(k)-style account will hurt […]

Spectrum News – 12/18/2017 (reprinted) By Don Weber Click here to view the full article FRANKFORT – Now that the time for a special session has passed, the big question in Frankfort is how long it will take to pass a pension reform bill once lawmakers return to the state Capitol on January 2. Public […]

Wall Street Journal – 1/2/2017 (reprinted) By Timothy W. Martin Click here to view the full article Herbert Whitehouse was one of the first in the U.S. to suggest workers use a 401(k). His hope in 1981 was that the retirement-savings plan would supplement a company pension that guaranteed payouts for life. Thirty-five years later, the […]

WKMS 91.3 FM – 12/12/2017 (reprinted) By Matt Markgraf Click here to view the full article The Kentucky Retired Teachers Association is calling on lawmakers to drop the proposed suspension of cost-of-living adjustments, keep defined benefit plans, fully-fund the system and not alter the TRS board. Executive Director Tim Abrams and former Executive Director Bob […]

Spectrum News – 12/7/2017 (reprinted) By Nick Storm Click here to view the full article House Republican lawmakers sent a letter on Wednesday calling for Gov. Matt Bevin, R-Kentucky, to wait on calling a special session, and take up pension reform during the regular session in January during the regular session. Bevin has been adamant […]

Last night 12/5/17 at 7pm, guests joined WFPL 89.3 FM for a discussion of pension reform in Kentucky and how it would affect state workers. Guest on the program included: Senator Morgan McGarvey (D-19th), Representative Jerry Miller (R-36th), Kentucky State Budget Director John Chilton, and Diane Oakley, Executive Director of the National Institute on Retirement Security.

With a special session looming, WFPL radio out of Louisville will take a deep dive on Gov. Bevin’s pension reform proposal in depth today, Tuesday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. EST during a LIVE show. Expected guests are:  Diane Oakley, Executive Director of the National Institute on Retirement Security, Tom Loftus, journalist covering Kentucky Statehouse for Courier […]

A majority of benefit payouts for retired teachers is generated from investment income. Taxpayers only pay for approximately a quarter of benefit payouts. Actuaries have stated that if TRS continues to be funded properly, the pension system will be actuarially sound regardless of ratio of active workers to retirees. Kentucky has three different retirement systems […]

On Thursday, November 30 at 7p.m., call-in as the KRTA is hosting a phone conference in the hopes of better answering questions from current and future retired teachers around the state concerning the state of pension reform. The telephone town hall will primarily cover the dramatic impact that suspensions to Cost-Of-Living Adjustments (COLAs) will have […]

Below is a news update released this past weekend by the Teachers’ Retirement System of Kentucky. The TRS update found that, because the Kentucky General Assembly actually made a contribution to the system (the first by the state since 2008), the unfunded liability decreased and the TRS system posted a 15.37 percent gross gain on […]

Suspensions to Cost-Of-Living Adjustments (COLAs) may not seem like a large amount upfront, but over time those missing adjustments can amount to tens of thousands of dollars withheld from retired teachers over the course of their retirement. Jump to Calculator The TRS COLA’s are pre-funded. 1.74 percent of an active teacher’s paycheck during his or […]

WHAS11 News Louisville – 11/17/2017 (reprinted) By Chris Williams Click here to view the full article   FRANKFORT, Ky. (WHAS11) — Late Friday afternoon Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin briefly remarked that he will call for a special session to address one of the Commonwealth’s biggest issues, pension reform. Governor Bevin did not say when it […]

Community Recorder – 11/13/2017 (reprinted) By Janet Sogar, Community Recorder guest columnist Click here to view the full article In his Viewpoints column on Nov. 9, State Sen. Damon Thayer had high praise for Governor Bevin’s proposed changes to the ailing state pension system. He is certain that these changes will “keep the pension promise […]

Spectrum News – 11/17/2017 (reprinted) By Kevin Wheatley Click here to view the full article As the calendar draws closer to the end of the year, policymakers are still cobbling together a pension reform proposal ahead of a possible special session before lawmakers return to Frankfort in 2018 to write a two-year spending plan. Last […]

Spectrum News – 11/16/2017 (reprinted) Opinion By Nick Storm Click here to view the full article As the House of Representatives finds it’s footing amid an alleged sexual harassment settlement which that caused Rep. Jeff Hoover’s resignation as speaker and sparked an investigation, the new co-chair of the Public Pension Oversight Board says work is […]

Herald-Leader – 11/14/2017 (reprinted) Opinion By Michael Reaves Click here to view the full article Look, we know Gov. Matt Bevin has had a tough time with his plan to upend public pensions in Kentucky. But that’s not an excuse to rejigger the numbers from independent actuaries that make his plan look even worse than […]

Herald-Leader – 11/14/2017 (reprinted) By John Cheves Click here to view the full article Gov. Matt Bevin’s administration wants a redo on an analysis of how much his proposed pension bill would cost the Teachers’ Retirement System of Kentucky. The Bevin administration — which has blocked the release of a similar analysis of how much his bill […]

neaToday – 3/23/2012 (reprinted) By Cindy Long Click here to view the full article Longtime friends Brenda Brum and Dolores Townsend have a lot in common. They both like antiquing and poking around flea markets. They both care for an elderly parent. They both taught at the same school. And they both avoided a financial […]

National Public Pension Coalition – 5/25/2017 (reprinted) By Tyler Bond Click here to view the full article States across the country, from Wisconsin to Oklahoma to Alaska, are experiencing teacher shortages. Fewer people are preparing to become teachers and it is becoming more difficult for states to find qualified individuals to replace teachers who quit or retire. A recent study from the […]

WPSD Local 6 – 9/19/2011 (reprinted) By Amanda Roberts Click here to view the full article   MARSHALL COUNTY, KY – How will Kentucky’s pension crisis affect your child’s education? The recommendation from consultants that some state retirees convert to 401Ks instead of a state pension plan has left some state workers desperate for answers. […]

Reuters – 3/1/2011 (reprinted) By Felix Salmon Click here to view the full article Steven Greenhouse has a long article in today’s NYT about an attempt by the states to deal with their “strained” pension funds by moving to defined-contribution pension plans. Here’s the lede: Lawmakers and governors in many states, faced with huge shortfalls in employee pension […]

Herald-Leader – 11/13/2017 (reprinted) By John Cheves Click here to view the full article   FRANKFORT – Already reeling from bad fiscal reviews, Gov. Matt Bevin’s administration refused Monday to release an actuarial analysis showing how much money the Republican’s proposed pension reform plan would cost Kentucky taxpayers who support state and local governments. The Kentucky Retirement Systems Board […]

The New York Times – 4/7/2011 (reprinted) Opinion By Teresa Ghilarducci Click here to view the full article If having trouble with link above click here to view full NYTimes article on archive.org Teresa Ghilarducci, the Bernard L. and Irene Schwartz Chair of Economic Policy Analysis at the New School for Social Research, is the […]

3/6/2009 – CNN Money (reprinted) By Janice Revell Click here to view the full article Last week, West Virginia teachers got to vote on whether to remain in 401(k)-style retirement plans or return to generous state pensions. But you won’t be so lucky.   NEW YORK (Money) — Last week’s West Virginia election should frighten […]

11/9/2017 – Associated Press (reprinted) By Adam Beam Click here to view the full article Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin’s plan to overhaul the retirement system for public school teachers would cost taxpayers an extra $4.4 billion over the next 20 years, according to a new analysis, a whopping cost that potentially complicates the proposal’s prospects […]

Many KRTA members have asked to see specifics of the Shared Responsibility Plan that was released at a press conference in Woodford County on Monday November 6, 2017 by Kentucky education leaders. Below are the talking points that were released at the press conference and how the plan would affect members of TRS.   We […]

9/18/2017 – Lexington Herald-Leader (reprinted) By Tom Eblen Click here to view the full article Governor Matt Bevin took to Facebook Live to call out former Fayette County Superintendent Tom Shelton, who called on schools to dismiss teachers to protest pension reform. Governor Matt Bevin Facebook Gov. Matt Bevin doesn’t fool Kentucky teachers. They have […]

Oct 28th, 2017 Reprinted from the Northern Kentucky Tribune – Click Here to Read Actual Article By Tim Abrams, Executive Director Elect, KRTA Let’s remember how we got into this pension mess in the first place. Frankfort — not our current and retired teachers — failed to live up to its fiduciary responsibility to properly fund […]

The Full Pension Bill has been released. Click to read the Pension Reform Bill for yourself.     

Earlier this week, Senate President Stivers held a press conference tried to absolve the legislature of responsibility for not properly funding the pension system. Here is the other side of the story. Many of you have asked about the validity of Senate President Stivers negative comments about TRS this week.  Here is the truth:   […]

A recent article reprinted below shows that defined benefit plans (pensions) are a more efficient way of helping schools and teachers deal with retirement.  Very important was we continue to debate Kentucky Pension Reform. To see actual article click here. A new report finds that defined benefit (DB) teacher pension plans work for both schools […]

The Kentucky Retired Teachers Association (KRTA) looks forward to carefully reviewing Governor Bevin’s pension reform proposal discussed at a press conference this morning. We appreciate that policymakers have listened to our concerns and have indicated their willingness to keep its commitment to retired educators. However, it is unclear how the proposed reforms could possibly be […]

10/11/2017 – Spectrum News (reprinted) By Kevin Wheatley Click here to view the full article As top administration and legislative officials continue crafting their pension reform proposal behind closed doors, groups like the Kentucky Retired Teachers Association are left wondering how they’ll be affected. Tim Abrams, the incoming executive director of the Kentucky Retired Teachers […]

It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. – Ecclesiastes 5:5 Meet some of our Retired Teachers in Kentucky and hear what they have to say about our current pension issues. From 2007-2016 Frankfort stopped making its requested contribution to the Teacher’s Retirement System in Kentucky.  A […]

New Web Site, Outreach to Policymakers Will Convey Retired Teachers’ Opposition to Pension Reform Proposal October 2, 2017 LOUISVILLE – The Kentucky Retired Teachers Association (KRTA) has launched a statewide grassroots campaign to protect the earned retirement security of thousands of retirees who served a career educating children. The campaign will advocate for fairness and […]

9/28/2017 – The Advocate-Messenger (reprinted) By Tim Abrams Click here to view the full article Ky. Retired Teachers Association Bob Martin’s Sept. 21 column, “Kentucky’s pension problem stems from defined benefits system,” is poorly researched and obviously failed to examine the fiscal history and performance of our pension systems. Mr. Martin claims that pension systems, […]

Reprinted Article and Video from Spectrum News Pure Politics Gregg Riggs, a retired chief officer with the Frankfort Fire Department chastised legislators for the fact that their pension are better funded than his, and the fact that they get a pension in the first place. “Why is the legislator retirement and the judicial retirement treated […]

9/22/2017 – The Herald-Leader (reprinted) Op-Ed By Frederic J. Cowan and W. Gordon Hamlin Jr. Click here to view the full article Kentucky has the strongest public-pension contract protection of any state in the country. The legislature long ago created the “inviolable contract” for all the major plans, and the Kentucky and U.S. Constitutions prohibit […]

9/18/2017 – Northern Kentucky Tribune (reprinted) By Dorsey Ridley Click here to view the full article While I appreciate the Governor’s efforts to address Kentucky’s pension challenges, I fear the proposals would only enhance our problems further. Kentucky’s public pensions face very real challenges, but imploding the pension systems that provide benefits promised, and legally […]

9/15/2017 – Lexington Herald Leader (reprinted) Editorial Click here to view the full article It is not at all clear that Gov. Matt Bevin has a sense of irony; but if he does, he certainly put it to work in one of his recent Facebook videos. Taking on again one of his favorite targets, the […]

9/12/2017 – Bowling Green Daily News (reprinted) By Wes Swietek Click here to view the full article A substantial proposed increase in mandated employer funding to shore up the state retirement system could have a large impact locally. The increase and other cuts already have Warren County Public Schools looking at a potential tax increase. […]

9/8/2017 – Kentucky Center for Economic Policy (reprinted) By Pam Thomas Click here to view the full article Cleaning up expensive tax breaks is essential if we are going to invest in a stronger Kentucky and restore funding to our pension systems. The biennial Tax Expenditure Analysis (i.e. tax break analysis) published by the Office of State […]

8/31/2017 – Courier Journal (reprinted) By Tom Loftus Click here to view the full article Louisville Metro Police spokesman Dwight Mitchell updates the media on the shooting at 3500 block of Kerry Drive in Bashford Manor on Monday, Sept. 18.Thomas Novelly/The Courier-Journal/USA TODAY Network FRANKFORT, Ky. — Leaders of Kentucky’s teacher unions are not expecting […]

8/29/2017 – Kentucky Sports Radio (reprinted) By Matt Jones Click here to view the full article On Tuesday night’s Hey Kentucky!, Matt Jones took an in-depth look at the pension crisis in Kentucky, and the controversial proposal by a group hired by Governor Bevin to solve the issue.

8/25/2017 – Northern Kentucky Tribune (reprinted) Click here to view the full article   Eighty-six percent of Kentuckians say that all workers, not just those in the public sector, should have a pension plan according to new polling results released today by the National Institute on Retirement Security. These findings are consistent with national polling conducted earlier […]

6/26/2017 – The Guardian (reprinted) By Associated Press Colorado Springs Click here to view the full article Koch officials said that the network’s midterm budget for policy and politics is between $300m and $400m, but donors are demanding legislative progress. At a weekend donor retreat attended by at least 18 elected officials, the Koch brothers […]

6/26/2017 – Courier-Journal (reprinted) By Tom Loftus Click here to view the full article The General Assembly’s Public Pension Oversight Board gave groups representing public employees and retirees the chance to weigh-in on pension reform Monday. And those groups, as well as a few other organizations, took full advantage of the opportunity. The board opened its […]