October 15, 2008
The honorable Governor Sonny Perdue,
As a retiree from the University System of Georgia, I am extremely concerned by the upcoming November 19 vote. As you know, the retired teachers of Georgia currently receive a minimal, yet mandatory, cost of living increase biannually. The TRS Board of Trustees will consider and vote on removing the mandatory nature of the cost of living increase. Knowing that they must consider all written opinions prior to final adoption of any policy change, I would voice my extreme opposition to any modification to the current status of cost of living increases. The increases should remain mandatory. According to our legislative advocate, TRS is a well funded, stable retirement system. As such, no change is warranted in the administration of the retirement increases. I am quite sure that every man and woman in the Teacher Retirement system would agree with me whole heartedly.
The individuals at risk, people who have dedicated their lives to the education of Georgia’s youth, will lose their cost of living raises. The basis for such change is entirely insufficient, providing the elected officials a way of generating income. By depriving the people who have sacrificed so much to the state, the officials seek to remove the minimum increase. The very thought of removing the mandatory nature of the cost of living increase is offensive and reeks of impropriety. The TRS retirees, as older citizens, are inevitably deprived of so many things, like declining eyesight, general health, loss of loved ones, and so many other things out of their control. The very idea that further deprivation would be foisted upon them is reprehensible.
Our elected and appointed officials should beware of mistreating the educators in the state of Georgia. If you don’t believe me, ask Roy Barnes! The current policy has been in place since 1969 for good reasons, the cost of living increase is a proper, if meager, reward for the many years of dedicated service. How much has the cost of milk gone up during the same time? Please keep our biannual increase mandatory.
Thank you for your time and attention to this issue.
Sincerely,
Thomas B. Daughtry
Professor of Art, Emeritus
Clayton State University
