TOPEKA— Taxpayers United of America (TUA) today revealed government employee wages and pension estimates for Topeka, Shawnee County, KSU and the State of Kansas.  Kansas’ government employees are not only receiving generous salaries, but when retired, many will become pension millionaires.  Kansas officials refused to release pension figures, so the pension payouts are close estimates* for this report.
“Why are Kansas 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.
“Today, I will hand deliver letters to Gov. Brownback and each member of the Kansas Legislature, asking for transparency regarding individual pension amounts, as well as meaningful pension reforms that will be both fair and sustainable.”
“Taxpayers struggle through this recession with an average income of $41,000 and local unemployment as high as 6.7%, while government employees really rake it in with as many as 30 years of retirement benefits. The maximum Social Security annual payout is $22,000, regardless of how much one may have earned in their working career.”
Click the links below to view the estimated pensions and the letter to the governor and legislature.

“Topeka Police chief, Ronald Miller can look forward to an estimated lifetime pension payout of $2,654,254, that is $88,475 annually, based on his current gross of $110,594.”*
“Topeka government teacher, Larry Guth had annual gross wages of $106,963 and looks forward to an estimated annual pension starting at $65,515 with an estimated lifetime payout of $1,572,359.”*
“Shawnee County Medical Director, Myron Leinwetter had annual gross wages of $168,127. Leinwetter will enjoy $2,471461 in estimated lifetime pension payouts or at least $102,978 annually.”*
“University of Kansas Executive Vice Chancellor, Barbara Frajola Atkinson grossed $540,799 annually and stands to receive an estimated beginning pension of $331,240 with a lifetime estimated pension payout of $7,949,750.”*
“Kansas government pension systems are making millionaires out of public employees at taxpayer expense. Ending pensions for all new government hires and replacing with social security and 401(k)s would eventually eliminate unfunded government pensions. If current government employees would increase contributions toward their pensions, taxpayers would save billions of dollars.”
“According to the Kansas Policy Institute’s report of March, 2011, A Comprehensive Reform of the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System, ‘Kansas must enact pension reform quickly to ensure the future viability of the system and to prevent catastrophic funding shortfalls in the near future’.”
“This is a time for the political courage to do what’s in the best interest of taxpayers, rather than the special interests. Let’s knock any politician out of office, who cuts bad deals with union bosses and corporations!
Republican or Democrat, what’s the difference with numbers like these?”
*1. Est. Begin pensions 35 years except P&F at 32 years 2. Retirement age 62 except P&F at age 55. 3. No COLA 4. NO SS for P&F.

By on February 21, 2012   /   Kansas, Latest, News Releases, Pension Reform