Pension cost shift halted
House committee seeks study of moving financing of teachers' fund to counties
By Annie Linskey annie.linskey@baltsun.com
March 28, 2010
A spending committee in the House of Delegates has rejected a proposal that would have eventually transferred about $337 million in teacher pension costs from the state to local governments, stalling a Senate-approved plan to help balance Maryland's budget.
The House Appropriations Committee recommended on Friday a study of the implications of the cost shift, instead of beginning the effort next year.
"A step of that magnitude could only be done after a comprehensive study," said Del. Norman Conway, an Eastern Shore Democrat and head of the spending committee. "You really need more data."
State officials have long considered a shift in the cost of pensions. They say because local officials set the salaries on which pensions are based, fairness dictates that local governments pick up some of the burden. Counties argue that paying for pensions would require them to cut other services.
The Senate voted 28-19 last week to move the pension costs to the counties gradually, starting in July 2011. Ten of 14 supported that plan. A more drastic approach, shifting $450 million to the counties in the coming budget year, was first offered in an alternative Republican budget plan.
For More: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/education/bal-md.pension28mar28,0,1121435,print.story
16 comments:
Of course he does, he is sitting on his fat pension and does not want to lose it. Talk about a career politicians. Talk about getting fat off the people.
Isn't that an ethics violation or conflict of interest for Conway if he has a pension from working for the Board of Ed. (and what about his wife)?
But the Counties still want to have the "maintenance of effort" requirement waived again.
Many State Governments (and Federal Government) have made promises to people that they cannot honor.
Our governments are without honor.
They are liars and cheats.
They have tempted people to work for them (instead of the private sector) with airy promises - and now, after stealing and wasting most of our hard earned tax dollars, they are ready to renig on those promises.
Shameful
They will soon take it, just like everything else they have wasted, taken and taken over.....heck its gone already, its just credit anyway, theres really no money there, its been robbed just like ss and the Bay fund.....
Come on people. When Conway and Mathias were having their town Hall many of you were on here saying how Norm is a good guy and was worth voting for. You see when it comes down to it a dem. is just a tax and spend dem.
Duh, maybe because his wife works for BOE.
DUh
Duh, maybe she's retired now.
Norm is a piece of crap. Sorry this guy has taken care of his his entire political career. Un ethical to say the least. America is in trouble because of men like him. That did not look out for the good of all, just some. Greed Mr. Conway is one of the seven sins. All the people not just your education croanies. I am also aware you stalled on three bills recently that could cost Police and Fire Fighters better pension and disabililty. SHAME ON YOU NORM.
You were a great Principal. I guess Annopolis corrupted you ?
Norm is a volunteer at station 2 that says it all .
Now how could the politicians rely on the teacher vote if they give away control of the pension?
Take a good look at 1911 Pine Way Salis., thats Norm Conway's cousin's house....2 houses, 2 families on 1 parcel, 1 septic, 1 tax.....all done after the law change. Who else could get away with that, esp in this county?
Just curious, would this apply to people already retired, or just to the present employees?
Do some of you understand that what he did was to prevent the State from dumping the pension costs onto the counties and municipalities thereby making thier budgets even more challenging?
There was never any discussion of eliminating the pensions or reducing them.
More Union thuggery , Is Norm strong arming for SEIU ?
4:10 pm, thanks for "getting it."
What people should be screaming about is the state trying to shift its burdens onto the locals in order to balance the state budget.
THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE OUGHT TO BE SCREAMING ABOUT, DUH!
Yell at O'Malley or the State Board on this one, but Conway (much as I hate to admit it) got this one right.
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