KRNV News 4 | Groups fears "staggering" public employee pension payouts

Finding from TUA’s pension project on Las Vegas, Nevada, are featured in this story from KRNV News 4. To see video of the story, click on the image below.
CARSON CITY, Nev. (KRNV & MyNews4.com) – A taxpayer watchdog group is calling for reform of the Public Employees Retirement System after claiming to have uncovered some, “shocking and staggering information.”
The group Taxpayers United of America released new estimates Tuesday that out of Sparks, Reno, Washoe County and Washoe County School District at least 400 public employees could see pension payouts of $3 million or more during their lifetimes. 55 might make an estimated $5 million or more.  They predict that one employee may even earn over $9 million after he stops working for the taxpayer.
“These are payout for people who are no long productive. They are being paid not to work. Millions of dollars at taxpayer expense largely,” TUA Spokesperson Rae Ann McNeilly said.
The group says Washoe County Superintendent Heath Morrison tops the list with about an estimated $9.5 million worth of pension payouts over his lifetime. But the school district’s chief accountant says there are concern about the formulas used to calculate that number, and the fact that Morrison is about to leave and hasn’t put in enough time yet.
“Before anyone can earn any retirement they have to vest in the system and the vesting period for PERS is five years. And Doctor Morrison has only been here for three years,” Tom Ciesynski said.
News 4 found similar concerns among most of the other top 10 people on the list presented.
“Nevada doesn’t release pensions,” McNeilly said. “We have to take current employee salaries and estimate. so while that’s inaccurate to the letter, it does give people a glimpse into the potential of what some of these high staggering payouts are.”
The head of PERS here declined an on-camera interview. But she says their statue prevents the release of that information.  The issue is currently headed to the Nevada Supreme Court after a different group requested the same information.

KSNV NEWS 3 | Union pension plans under the microscope

Finding from TUA’s pension project on Las Vegas, Nevada, are featured in this story from KSNV News 3. To see video of the story, click on the image below.
LAS VEGAS (KSNV & MyNews3)– Unions see it as their right–others call public employee pensions a perk.
A conservative group telling News 3’s Mackenzie Warren promises are being made to union workers taxpayers can’t afford.
Taxpayers United of America is calling Nevada’s pension payment program downright unsustainable. The conservative grass roots group is on a nationwide tour.
TUA put out a list of the top pension earners from around the state and claims in southern Nevada among the top 500 lifetime estimated pensions exceed $4.1 million.
Rae Ann McNeilly of TUA says her group is proposing Nevada raise the retirement age and for employees to contribute more to their pensions.
Nick DiArchangel, with the SEIU, says that idea of reform is really just moving money around.
The top official of the public employees’ retirement system of nevada is calling the TUA’s numbers into question calling them downright scare tactics.

KTNV Channel 13 Action News | Report: Nevada's lavish pensions are unsustainable

Findings from TUA’s pension project on Las Vegas, Nevada, are featured in this story from KTNV Channel 13 Action News. To see video of the story, click on the image below.

Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) — A government watchdog group is sounding the alarm about what they call Nevada’s “lavish” pension system.
Taxpayers United of America says Nevada’s generous pensions have the potential to bankrupt the state if they continue.
While exact pension payouts are not made public, the group says their own math estimates thousands of public workers stand to earn hundreds of thousands of dollars each year in retirement.
“They are excessive amounts. They are excessively high and the word staggering keeps coming to mind,” says Rae Ann McNeilly of Taxpayers United of America. “This is an unsustainable system and would be ultimately crushing taxpayers and city and state budgets.”
The group says Nevada has the most generous pension program of the 14 states they have looked at so far.
They advocate phasing out pensions and moving towards a more sustainable 401-k system like many private companies have already done.
For more on the report including estimated pensions for the top 100 public workers, visit Taxpayers United of America’s website.