SALINA— Taxpayers United of America (TUA) today revealed government employee wages and pension estimates for Salina and Saline County. 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.
“Yesterday, I hand delivered 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 $33,000 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.”
“Salina Police chief, James D. Hill can look forward to an estimated lifetime pension payout of $2,878,529, that is $95,951 annually, based on his current gross of $119,939.”*
“Salina government teacher, Roanne D. Stein had annual gross wages of $74,016 and looks forward to an estimated annual pension starting at $45,335 with an estimated lifetime payout of $1,088,032.”*
“Saline County Engineer, Neil D. Cable had annual gross wages of $102,490. Cable will enjoy $1,506,608 in estimated lifetime pension payouts or at least $62,775 annually.”*
“Saline County Sheriff, Glen F. Kochanowski grossed $85,054 annually and stands to receive an estimated beginning pension of $68,043 with a lifetime estimated pension payout of $2,041,290.”*
“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.
Click the links below to view the estimated pensions and the letter to the governor and legislature:
Salina KS Government Employees
Salina KS Government Teachers
Saline County KS Government Employees
Kansas State Judges
University of Kansas Government Employees
Kansas State Government Employees
Letter to Governor
Letter to Legislature
Findings from TUA’s pension project on Kansas City, Kansas, are featured in this story from Fox 4 Kansas City. To watch the report, click here.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — One of the largest taxpayer organizations in the United States is in Kansas, calling for reform of government worker pensions. Taxpayers United of America claims many government employees will become pension millionaires after they retire, with taxpayers footing the bill.
Taxpayers United calculated the top 25 pensions for government employees in Wyandotte and Douglas counties. The group is using these numbers to back its claim that taxpayers can no longer afford to pay for generous pensions.
Taxpayers United claims that if Kansas City, Kansas, Police Chief Rick Armstrong retires at 55 and lives until he’s 85, Kansas taxpayers will provide him nearly $3 million in pension payments. Armstrong tops the list of pension payouts for government workers in Wyandotte county. In all the grassroots group says the top 25 public pensions in Wyandotte county will cost taxpayers more than $54 million if all the retirees live to age 85.
“These are quite astronomical amounts,” said Christina Tobin, vice president of Taxpayers United of America. “We’re here to shed a light and connect these names with these amounts. These are pension payouts that the taxpayers of Kansas City, they pay for these pensions.”
Other high-profile names on group’s Wyandotte list:
County Administrator Dennis Hays can expect to receive more than $2.5 million in pension payments. Fire Chief John Jones, more than $2.8 million. Even Unified Government Public Relations Director Mike Taylor made the list, with estimated lifetime pension payments totaling more than $1.5 million. Taxpayers seemed stunned.
“I don’t have a pension,” said Vicki Smith of Kansas City, Kan. “My husband doesn’t have a pension. My dad didn’t have a pension. He died when he was 80. My mom is living on retirement savings now. That’s how it ought to be. No, I don’t like subsidizing government officials of any kind.”
Taxpayers United says current employees should contribute at least 10 percent of their own money to their generous pensions. And the group says all new government workers should go into a 401k retirement plan, where they are responsible for saving for their own retirement. Wyandotte county taxpayers Fox 4 News talked with agree, saying that’s how it works for them.
“I fund my own,” said Heather Jones of Kansas City, Kan. “My company helps match some of what I put toward it, which I think is acceptable. But I still have to contribute to my own retirement plan. I work hard and I should be responsible for my own financial stability. I should not expect other people’s hard earned money to pay my way.”
Because of the President’s Day holiday, FOX4 couldn’t reach many of the Unified Government employees on the pension list. But a public safety worker on the list commented off camera, saying the pension helps attract people to careers in dangerous professions that require working holidays and all hours of the day and night. He also claims life expectancy for police officers after they retire is only about ten years.
To see Taxpayers United’s complete list of top government pensions in the city of Lawrence, Wyandotte and Douglas counties, click here.
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.
