YOUNGSTOWN— Taxpayers United of America (TUA) revealed government employee wages and pension estimates for Youngstown and Mahoning County. Ohio’s government employees are not only receiving generous salaries, but when retired, many will become pension millionaires. Ohio officials refused to release pension figures, so the pension payouts are close estimates* for this report.
“Why are Ohio lawmakers hiding their pension information? Are they more concerned with protecting abusers, than reforming a system that holds taxpayers hostage?” asked Christina Tobin, TUA Vice President.
“Youngstown area taxpayers struggle through this recession with average wages of $33,000, while government employees really rake it in for as many as 31 years of retirement benefits. The maximum annual Social Security annual benefit is $22,000, regardless of how much an individual earned in their working career.”
“Youngstown mayor, Charles P. Sammarone can look forward to an estimated lifetime pension payout of $3,551,000, that is $75,553 annually, based on his current gross of $104,935.”*
“Youngstown government teacher, Wendy E. Webb had annual gross wages of $124,960 and looks forward to an estimated annual pension starting at $82,473 with an estimated lifetime payout of $4,288,622.”*
“Mahoning County coroner, Joseph Ohr had annual gross wages of $131,328. Ohr will enjoy $3,711,333 in estimated lifetime pension payouts or at least $103,093 annually.”*
“Mahoning County mental health administrator, Ronald Marian grossed $128,983 annually and stands to receive an estimated beginning pension of $101,251 with a lifetime estimated pension payout of $3,645,050.”*
“Each of the top 100 pension estimates of Ohio State University employees reaches the maximum estimated pension payout of $214,500 annually for an estimated lifetime total of $7,722,000!”*
The Buckeye Institutes’ Diehl Research Fellow, Adam Schwiebert added, “Ohio lawmakers must be forward thinking and implement comprehensive reforms. Anything less is fiscally irresponsible and shortchanges taxpayers and government retirees in the long term.” Schwiebert is the author of The Buckeye Institute’s comprehensive study of the Ohio government pension systems, “Hanging by a Thread”.
“Let’s knock any politician out of office, who cut bad deals with union bosses and corporations!
Republican or Democrat, what’s the difference with numbers like these?”
Click below to view:
- Youngstown OH City Government Employees
- Youngstown OH Government Teachers
- Mahoning County OH Government Employees
- Ohio State University Government Employees
- Ohio Government Employees
- Governor Kasich letter
- General Assembly letter
*For Police and Fire employees 31 years with retirement at age 54, others as noted. Assumes dividend (COLA) averages 3% per year. Assumes current salary is same as retirement salary. Est. Total Pension Payout 30 years at age 54, 25 years at age 60. No SS included in to the above numbers, for Ohio public pension retirees. Wage limit of $325,000 for pension calc. i.e. salaries over $325K are not used in pension calculation for all employees hired before 1994, $225,000 after 1994.
It’s late on a weekday evening. Just saw the early news on your station and decided to go to your site to take a look at these government employee pension figures.
Please know that I was sickened by the estimates provided. Historically, the reason for relatively good pensions awarded to government employees was that they were not well compensated during their years of alleged dedication to the public good. These figures reveal, however, the ugly truth that not only were these individuals excessively well compensated during their years of work, with many more holidays, sick days and leisurely “perks” than the average private sector individual performing similar job functions, but they will also be able, after having to work no more than 30 years, to walk off into the retirement sunset with ongoing income that totally defies the ordinary citizen’s imagination.
My wife and I have worked, and will continue to work, well into our early seventies, both as professionals, and are scared to death about ever being able to retire. There is something fundamentally wrong with a government that we taxpayers pay for that can retire its elite with four to ten times what we can even imagine to have and be reassured that this income will never really end.
The time has come, as you have indicated, for these figures to be revealed to the everyday citizen. We have a right to know what we are paying out as taxpayers for so many who will continue to live their lives so very well at public expense. Please keep up your good work to unearth these ugly truths. Thank you for listening.
I am totally sickened by these figures, if I am allowed to repeat myself.
I think you need to review the actuarial tables at OPERS — I think you will find these individuals contributed to these so-called unreasonable pensions — you will find that the return is not unlike any 401K that you can contribute to yourself if you planned ahead and saved. 70% of your annual income after 30 years is not an unreasonable return on the contributions made. Yes, heaven forbid that it was mandatory and they were forced to contribute but it simple means they are reaping the benefits of investments and savings — the pension funds, at this point, are viable and self-sustaining. The salary and benefits for these positions, which require advanced degrees, were less compared to their private sector equivalent counterparts (by over 50%). The pension funds are not costing additional tax dollars but invested in businesses resulting in additional jobs like any other investment portfolio. Get off your high-horse and quit whining! And, moreover,tell the truth!