TUA Calls for Government Pension Reform in St. Joseph & Elkhart Counties

Click here to view St. Joseph County’s To 100 Salaries
Click here to view Indiana’s Top 25 Pensions
Click here to view the City of Elkharts Salaries
Click here to view Elkhart Community Schools Top 25 Salaries and Pensions
Click here to view Mishawaka Schools Top 25 Salaries and Pensions
South Bend–A report released today by Taxpayers United of America (TUA) reveals that South Bend and Elkhart government employees are not only receiving generous salaries, but that over a normal lifetime, many of these government employees when they retire will become pension millionaires. Indiana bureaucrats refuse to release pension figures, so total pension payouts were estimated for this report. The bureaucrats of the city of South Bend and Elkhart County have refused to provide salary information, violating Indiana state law.
“While St. Joseph County taxpayers struggle through this recession with an average wage of $36,200, a median home value of $112,500 and 11.3% unemployment, government employees really rake it in while they are employed and then when retired. Taxpayers not only foot the entire bill for the lush salaries but 100% of these government employee pensions are funded by the taxpayer.  In many cases, even the lump sum Annuity Savings Account is also completely funded by the taxpayers who will have to work until they drop to fund their neighbors’ retirement,” said Christina Tobin, TUA Vice President. “
“Starting first with the top 25 Pensions and Lump-sum Distributions (2010) for the entire state, heading the list is T. A. Crean of Indiana University, whose salary is $600,000. When he retires, he will receive an estimated annual pension of $198,000. In addition to his pension, he can receive either a lump-sum of $510,000 or an annuity. Crean’s estimated total pension payout over a normal lifetime is $7,425,000.”*
“Elkhart City employee, Richard L. Moore is eligible for a $69,060 lump-sum payout on top of his taxpayer funded lifetime pension payout of $1,099,270 when the average wage in Elkhart County is $34,500, the median home price is $124,000, and the unemployment rate is 12.7.”
“St. Joseph County employee, John Botich, Jr. is on track to receive a $105,955 lump sum on top of a lifetime pension payout of $1,686,549.”
“Mishawaka government school employee, Melvin L. Lenig, is pulling in a generous wage of $96,858. When Lenig retires, he can receive a lump-sum payment of $82,330 as well as $1,198,624 in estimated total pension payments.  Elkhart Schools’ Kathy D. Byrd can receive a lump sum payout of $58,412 on top of her expected lifetime payout of $850,410 with a zero contribution of her own money.”
“South Bend and Elkhart pension systems are making millionaires out of public employees at taxpayer expense. Ending pensions for all new government hires would eventually eliminate unfunded government pensions; putting new government hires into social security and 401(k)s would achieve this. If each current government employee were required to contribute 10% toward his or her pension, taxpayers would save billions of dollars.”
“We need to knock all politicians out of office who make deals with bad government union bosses and bad corporate power brokers at the expense of the taxpayers.”
*Assumes retirement at age 55 after 30 years.
Click here to view this news release as a PDF.