Apr 14, 2023 2 min read

Cost-of-living adjustments needed

In the Thursday April 6 edition, the editorial made some very obvious erroneous statements regarding Pennsylvania retiree pensions.

In 2001, state retirees received a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) of about 25%. Elected officials in the state House and Senate were the beneficiaries of a 50% COLA. And couple that with an automatic COLA they so generously locked in guarantees those elected to the state House and Senate increase annually.

Being a retired state employee of over 35 years, we haven’t had a COLA in over 21 years. To put it in proper perspective, I had an aunt who retired in 1982 with a retirement of $161 per month. With an increase of 25% in 2001, she received $201 per month. That’s what she received until her death more than two years ago.

So, tell me, how is a retiree supposed to live on $201 per month? Why is it that our elected officials get an automatic COLA adjusted yearly for inflation? But, as soon as we retired state employees testify on the need for a COLA, we’re putting an unnecessary burden on the taxpayers. We’re taxpayers too. We contributed to our pension plans. We’re not asking for the moon with a gold fence around it. We’re asking to just keep up with the high cost of living.

Barry Andrews

Washington