Ballot includes cost-of-living adjustment for TRS recipients
NORTH TEXAS (CBSNewsTexas.com) - Early voting in Texas began Monday for the November 7 election, and retired teachers are asking for voters' support to increase their pension checks.
A cost-of-living adjustment for school employee retirees is one of 14 propositions on the ballot.
The majority of retired teachers in Texas haven't gotten one in nearly 20 years, and with historic levels of inflation, many are struggling to make ends meet.
"It has been really hard," says Helen Spivy, who spent 45 years in public education in Weatherford. "I loved being a teacher."
Retirement started off fun, but the current economic climate combined with the loss of her husband's Social Security check when he died two years ago forced her to go back to work at 79 years old.
"It's so nice to get that paycheck every week," Spivy said. "If lots of people just knew the depravation some teachers are living in right now because there's just not money. I was lucky, I found that little job, but everybody's not that lucky and I don't know how long I can keep up with that."
That's why she's urging people to support Proposition 9, which would allow the state to tap into about $3.3 billion from surplus funds to increase teachers' monthly checks anywhere from two to six percent, depending on what year they retired.
"The legislature voted unanimously for this," said Tim Lee, executive director of the Texas Retired Teacher Association. "There was not a single dissenting vote. Republican, Democrat, everybody."
Now it just needs the green light from Texas voters.
"It's paying for it upfront, and it's going to make sure our Texas taxpayers are not going to have any additional financial tax burden to worry about this," Lee said. "So it's really the most fiscally conservative way to get this accomplished."
Federal rules prevent most retired educators from receiving Social Security, so the state's teacher retirement pension system is their primary source of income.
"It will make it easier for me to live, definitely, and it will make me feel so good inside because I gave my all," Spivy said. "I really did."
If it does pass, retired teachers will start receiving the cost-of-living increase in January 2024.
"That vote is going to mean love," said Spivy.
Prop 9 would benefit as many as 420,000 school employee retirees in Texas.
