Larded pensions are a taxing proposition

        At most jobs, sick time is something you take when you're sick.

        Maybe you can roll over a few years worth in case you have a major illness.

        But generally, it's use it or lose it.

        The same goes for vacation time.

        Not in the public schools, where unused sick days and vacation time become a golden parachute for some educators.

        Many teachers and administrators cash in hundreds of days in unused time upon retirement, amounting in some cases to tens -- sometimes hundreds -- of thousands of dollars.

        And the most veteran among them get to use the benefit to bulk up their pensions.

       That's how North Tonawanda Superintendent John George ended up with a $205,809 pension that's bigger than the paycheck he earned while working.

       And how Carmen Granto, the longtime Niagara Falls superintendent, is expected to end up with a pension bigger than his $131,000 annual salary when he retires in June.

       It's not just superintendents benefiting from the perk.

    Teachers as well as administrators in the the Buffalo schools pump up their pensions this way, as do teachers in the Depew School District.

   It's a great way to finance a comfortable retirement but, critics point out, it comes at a price to taxpayers.

-- Mary Pasciak

Comments

[gary]

the ones responsible for the pension mess are the Boards of Education that agree to contracts that allow individuals to cash in unused sick and vacation days prior to retirement

[W]

I don't think this story tells the whole truth of the matter. In recent years, this sort of thing has been mostly weeded out of teacher's contracts in the state, because the boards know what effect they have when teachers retire. None of the examples in this piece are teachers hired after about 1985, unless I miss my guess. The problem is, school boards of days gone by allowed that sort of language into contracts and it is just now being noticed. I don't know of many districts that allow new teachers that sort of pension boost, and the NYS pension system has been weakened for teachers over the years too. There are several tiers of pension levels, starting with Tier 1. These are mostly all retired teachers now. Tier 2's are starting to fade. Tier 3's are the older teachers in the workforce and Tier 4's are the newer, younger teachers. Tier 4 is nothing like Tier 1, I can tell you that.

[BobbyCat]

After reading Mary Pasciak's piece in the Sunday paper, I felt sick. I pushed away my breakfast. These teachers and administrators are killing this state.

[Lydia Bezou-Hojnacki]

Are we not surprised that so many fat cats are retired from the PUBLIC SECTOR? Now add up all the generous pensions and ask yourself how many teachers and aides can be paid with the excessive largesse. This is criminal. A retired person is just that: retired, no longer working, not deserving of a "salary level income." I cannot imagine any retiree needing more than $40,000/year for doing nothing.

The state got smart too late with Tier 4. Why, in times of fiscal crises, have we not been legally able to make cuts to pension benefits? Yes, I am outraged. I saved for my retirement, and after working 35 years, I CAN live on both pension and social security, with the personal "nest egg" as a cushion for emergencies and frivolities.

Those who had incomes over $100,000/year prior to retirement are, in fact, able to do with far less than I, for sure!

The question is, how many of the fat cats will give up some of their pensions to pay for today's school improvements?

[rosie]

Just another example of screwed up NYS. They all sit there with the big grin on there face saying they earned it...screw you. I'm out of here when the time is right. Take this state and shove it! It will never get better..not in our lifetime.

[enoughalready]

John George, you are disgusting and shameful.

It is about time the News starts paying attention to the cost of education here- it isn't just local government killing WNY.

[pgr88]

Cops, Buffalo Fire, Teachers, City Politicians, State Workers - you could write a story about each one of them. We are like Communist Russia - the best guaranteed jobs, if you know someone to get you in, are with the Govt. They and their union reps, in turn, ensure "the Party" stays in control. The rest of us outside the system struggle to get by or leave. It all collapses when it absolutely can't be paid for any longer. We are getting close to that point....

[BTF ed.]

I'm sick of being disrespected as a teacher, we deserve every penny we get. Who is going to deal with your little brats ? Just try to cut our pay, we are united and stand together. Just try it and then see what happens.

[Maggie]

Teachers, Board memebers and Administrators like John George should be ashamed of themselves! How sickening to see John George Sitting there with that big grin on his face while our taxes go up and out of control. Families that were once able to provide for their families are now finding themeselves in food pantry lines, while people like him are probably enjoying their numerous million dollar condos in Florida. These are the exact reasons people leave this God forsaken place!

[lanres]

"Its not just the teachers" , another person commented. - - Thats the point - its a culture of "Entitlement" - those who are on the inside , that includes Politicians all the way down to Crossing Guards - the majority of them are draining the life out of our area. - - They have built a system within the system. One of greed , self service , nepotism and Patronism. Its so ingrained in their lives , they can't see or acknowledge it.- - We have helped it along, ignoring everytime a "New Group" takes over a "Political Position" we say he has the "Right" to hire his own people. - - Or when the guy who collected petition signitures ends up getting a nice "Job" after his guy wins.- - Most City Unions are just PAC Funds(Political Action Committies)filled with Union Dues money for the purpose of "Donating" that money to "Friendly" Politicians , Judges and such. - - - Voters need to quit following Party Lines and vote outside the box.

[Ellen]

These people that are retiring with so much money earned barely no money at all for the first 10-15 years of their careers. They started off with salaries of 4 or 5 thousand. So they got lucky. Good for them. In these hard economical times, it's good to see someone do well after 30-40 years of a difficult job. Most teachers are in the 50,000 dollar pension range so it's a bit disingenuous to make it look like everyone is earning 6 figures - that's a few people who were in the right place at the right time. Anyone can be a bad teacher (or fireperson, or policeofficer) and they probably shouldn't get a cent upon retirement. For all those who have done their very best and a good job throughout the years, however, they have my praise. They deserve to live comfortably after spending all those years working with parents and kids who have little regard for education -- or with parents and kids who love to learn. Either way, it's a difficult few decades of one's life and they deserve to have enough money to retire comfortably in the end. And what would you rather have happen -- for the school officials to be absence day after day over the years. Stop griping and support people in these jobs. Isn't the whole idea behind pensions that you won't have to worry about retirement so you're willing to take on the most difficult jobs? How's this for an ad to attract good teachers:
Teachers Needed. Master's Degree Required. Earn degrees at your own expense. Long hours required after classes end so you can correct papers, plan lessons, attend conferences, meet with parents. Upon retirement, expect to have the amount of your pension made public and be publicly ridiculed in the press for retiring with a pension.

[Daniel A. Arbutina]

I just finished reading the article by Mary B. Pasciak regarding pensions for retired school superintendents.
It's appalling to know what their pensions are especially when it's at the expense of the New York State taxpayers.

There has been a mass exodus of residents leaving this state each year due to high taxes, a poor job market (as you know businesses won't come here because of the high taxes)& other roadblocks that prevent any kind of progress (i.e bridge, waterfront, etc.)

When is Albany or the powers that may be going to get that you can't pay that amount of pensions to retirees? Oh, that's right, they'll just increase taxes & tolls along with finding every other way to gouge the existing residents.

Western New York has been in a financial crisis for at least the past 20 years. There's an elephant sitting in the middle of the classroom & Albany continues to bury its head in the sand.

[Texas Kid]

With all the money thrown into this NY educational system, now I understand where its going. Not for education. I've told some of the Buffalo dead enders on these blogs about the Univiersity of Texas and Texas A&M outranking the nearest SUNY school for 40 places. All I get is that the rankings are biased. Don't think so now. Monies are going in to fund lavish pensions so retirees can live it up in Florida while paying nothing in NY taxes for it. As for one comment about teachers making $4-5K a year, when did they start teaching..1950??? If it was recently..where ..in the Peace Corps in Africa or South America??? Sounds like one big gravy train. Like I said before, before your state's budget crisis is solved, don't count on any cutbacks, you'll be paying and paying and paying. Better you than me.

[Rick]

Daniel A. Arbutina ... you're a fool.

[Rick]

maggie...nice to know you think the kids you teach are all brats..you desrve a raise

[Rick]

Sorry Maggie ..BTF Ed I meant you and the brat comment!

[Rick]

Posted by: Ellen | August 10, 2008 at 12:33 PM..you're the fool Ellen...NOT Daniel A. Arbutina ...Sorry Dan!

[mike]

Not a bad job considering weekends off, holidays off, summers off, never having to work the night shift or afternoon shifts, or out in the weather. Getting hired without competitive exams, often with nepotism and other "quotas". If a small local district like Depew, have teachers earn $90,000 in pension a year, it makes me wonder what UB professors like Satish Mohan, the Amherst Town Supervisor who is always criticizing the Town employees, make in their pensions and salaries. People complain about taxes, but how about the inflated cost of education, both local and college level. Don't forget, people who work at colleges often have their family members attend for free, like at Canisius. That translates to a $40,000 bonus per year. Why doesn't the News take this a step further.

[OJW]

Everyone has an opinion about police, fire, and teacher salaries, benefits, pensions, etc... I am a Buffalo firefighter 13 years but I won't get into the opinion war you guys have going here. I also can't speak on any district/municipalities other than my own. I will pose 1 question to ALL of you though: WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO RUN THROUGH A BACKYARD AT NIGHT ON THE EAST OR WEST SIDE OF BUFFALO CHASING A MAN WITH A GUN?? WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO CRAWL INTO A BLAZING VACANT, RUN-DOWN DEATH TRAP OF A HOUSE ON THE EAST OR WEST SIDE TO PUT OUT A FIRE?? WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO TEACH(try to teach)AT ANY ONE OF BUFFALO'S AWFUL SCHOOLS, WHERE ATTENDANCE IS PITIFUL, SUPPLIES AND RESOURCES ARE WORSE, AND MANY PARENTS BLAME YOU FOR THEIR CHILDS FAILURES WHEN THEY AREN'T EVEN RAISING THE CHILD?? If your answer is "yes", you just missed the Buffalo Police & Fire exams. You can still apply with The Board Of Ed. If "no", YOU DON'T HAVE A CLUE WHAT WE DEAL WITH, NEVER WILL, AND DON'T HAVE THE COURAGE TO TRY TO DO WHAT WE DO DAILY. WE DESERVE EVERY GODDAMN PENNY & MORE.

[Rick]

Yeah..Texas is just great.. I see you are reading a Buffalo paper but you live in Texas...hmmm...If Texas is so great why are you reading a Buffalo paper???

[Marty]

What is the Buffalo New's concern with public employees?
These are the people that educate our kids, save our lives, rescue us in fires and do the rest of the "garbage" jobs that no one else in society is willing to do!
What they EARN towards their retirements is none of your business. This is not welfare, this is hard EARNED pensions that they worked a lifetime to get.

[Maggie]

If things are going to change then us taxpayers need to quit agreeing to pay more in school taxes. As a result of this article it does appear that it is NOT the children that are benefiting from increased school taxes. Every time you turn around districts are asking for more. Well...you can't squeeze blood out of a turnip. Us taxpayers are tapped out! My family moved away and then came back. I do love WNY, but I can't handle the taxes anymore--especially when it is making other people's wallets fat. We are thinking about leaving once again. We live in North Tonawanda and this makes my stomach turn...we have to stand up for change! While I am still here, I for one will not vote for anymore school increases.

[Neil]

OJW.....I agree you have one of the most difficult jobs on the planet that requires more courage, patience, judgement, etc. than 95% of the population could hope to muster, I don’t envy you. But, you deserve exactly what your union can negotiate for you - no less, no more, that's the way the system works. With the Taylor law in place those negotiations are skewed in your favor and against the taxpayer, that should be changed. If the taxpayers don’t get the law enforcement they desire under that system they can choose to pay more. If pay and benefits aren’t what people in law enforcement require to do the job, they can select another career field, just as everyone in the privates sector does - no more, no less. BTW, do the Iraq or other foreign war vets, which have faced similar, if not more dangerous situations than you, also deserve the same treatment as you claim?

[Stan]

This is just part of the overall distended financial arrangements that is cruising for a bruising. Eash distended part can't be solved in isolation. Here's what I tell administrators and others on the state buck:
There are no guarantees. The state cannot print money. Nor can local governments. The Federal government has its back against the wall. Health care can be terminated for retirees. Pensions, when overwhelmingly underfunded, can be limited. The money taxpayers are putting ino the state's coffers is good money after bad. Taxing reservation tobacco sales to non-Indians is a sign of desperation. Ask an actuary.

[hello1]

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