Calvert - County Times - Southern Maryland Online

13 Thursday, March 15, 2012The Calvert GazetteDon’t Buy TeacherPension Shell GameWhat the public doesn’t know about the “shell game” thatour legislators are playing by turning over the Maryland StateTeachers Retirement/Pension Fund to counties. The assumptionwould be that the State would be turning over a healthy fund forcounties to manage. That is not the case.PEW Center on the States and Boston College’s Center forRetirement Research, two non-profit and independent researchorganizations are recognized as having expertise in analyzingall 50 states liabilities compared to actual state funding. Bothorganizations have some interesting history and projections onthe Maryland Retirement/Pension Fund for Teachers. In 2010,The Pew Center had “serious concerns” over the declining assetsto liability ratio for the retirement fund.In 2000, the Retirement/Pension Fund for Teachers wasfunded at 101%. That means for every dollar of money promisedin payment, $1.01 was actually funded. That makes for avery healthy fund to meet the promises made to employees. TheFederal General Accounting Office (GAO) has a guideline thatany retirement fund, either private or public, at 80% is a healthyretirement fund. This is standard.In 2008, the Maryland Retirement/Pension for Teachersfund was rated at 78%. No alarm bells were going off at that timesince it was just below the 80% mark. The drop was attributed tothe collapse of the financial markets. But something else was goingon that wasn’t being reported. The State of Maryland, before2003, had been making only partial or no payments to the fund.These payments are an obligated expense that lawmakers choseto overlook and this trend has continued. If that were not badenough, the State of Maryland has been using the Retirement/Pension Fund for Teachers as its own personal piggy bank. Thelatest withdraw was $120 million made last spring and transferredto the transportation budget. No state payment to the fundwas made. Instead, they increased the percentage of contributionsan individual teacher makes to their retirement fund.By March of 2011, the funding was at 64%. Funding at 60%is considered “a serious concern or in need of improvement” bythe Pew and Boston College Research Centers. In a recent articlein the Washington Post, the projection is that the fund will fallto 59% funding by the end of 2012. Still the state is on track toremove another $60 million and another missed fund payment in2013. Some of this drop can be attributed to continued fluctuationsin the financial markets and the overall economy. Most ofit can be attributed to our State leadership, regardless of partyaffiliation and the “shell game” being played for years.So, what exactly are the individual counties inheriting fromthe state? They will be inheriting a fund that is under funded (usingthe 80% GAO standard) and may be approaching an unsustainablefuture. They will be inheriting a fund that may impactcounty credit ratings and ability to borrow money. There are nolaws on the books that prevented the state from raiding the RetirementFund. Nor are there any laws that prevent counties fromdoing the same. If this had happened in the private sector, with aprivate company raiding employee’s retirement fund, somebodywould be jailed. Since the “king can do no wrong” (no laws broken),the state is not accountable to the public sector. The countiesneed to find a way to delay this transfer of the Retirement /Pension for Teachers until the State restores the funds to the 80%funding standard. Without that happening, each county will beon the “hook” for restoring this fund.Restoring the fund can happen two ways: Raising countytaxes in the event of the fund being transferred from the state ora penalizing reform for teachers. I am betting on the latter optionor a combination. Teachers did not create the problem; the statebears the greater responsibility. The state reneged on payments,withdrew money to fund unrelated projects and balanced thebudget, all on the backs of teachers. Teachers continue to upholdtheir end with their increased contributions to the fund. Neitherfuture reform nor higher county taxes would be necessary if thestate had kept its promised contribution and left the fund alone,allowing it to do what its original structure to accomplish. A lessonlearned too late.Joan RitchieLeonardtown, MDTribute to Pat CarpenterI feel like I’ve known Pat all my life and that’s notso. The day I met Bob and Pat Carpenter, I instantlyfell in love with them – they are like a ray of sunshine.They made my day every time I saw them. Pat wasalways so very positive in every endeavor she did, alwaysthinking ahead for what’s good for ChesapeakeBeach and North Beach.As the topic for MML last year was: “WorkingTogether for a Successful Tomorrow”, that was Pat,and I loved working with her because we are on thesame page.From the beginning of Chesapeake Beach to theend of North Beach there is no better place to be inAmerica. We are the best and Pat helped make it thatway.Giving a Reason to SMILEIt is hard to imagine a community more supportivethan Calvert County. Thank you to everyone whosupports SMILE either by volunteering their time, donatinggoods or shopping in our Thrift Shop. Withoutthis continuing support, SMILE could not exist.SMILE has been enriching lives in southern CalvertCounty for just over 20 years. The Food Pantryand Thrift Shop are run by a staff of over 175 dedicatedvolunteers; there is no paid staff. Community donationsof clothing, household items, toys and other marketablegoods stock the Thrift Shop shelves. Proceedsfrom Thrift Shop sales are used to purchase food forthe Pantry and to provide emergency financial assistancethroughout the year.In 2011, SMILE handed out over 12,000 bags offood serving over 36,000 people, distributed 225 Easterdinner food baskets and 441 bags of groceries forThanksgiving dinners. We served over 200 dinners onChristmas Day and helped to serve over 200 Thanksgivingdinners at Catamaran’s in Solomons. SMILE isalso a distribution point for the Federal CommoditiesProgram with several distributions per year.SMILE’s Thrift Shop provided clothing in fourseasonal allotments for 1,440 children. We also helpedwith clothing for people reentering the workforce, withfurniture and household items for burnt-out families,and clothing and necessities for people in transition.We distributed Christmas gifts to 66 families for 191children.SMILE offered emergency financial assistance to350 guests for utilities, medical needs, rent, and otherone-time emergency needs. We offer monthly bloodPublisherThomas McKayAssociate Publisher Eric McKayEditorSean RiceGraphic Artist Angie StalcupOffice ManagerTobie PulliamAdvertising sales@somdpublishing.netEmailinfo@somdpublishing.netPhone 301-373-4125Staff WritersGuy LeonardSarah MillerCorrin HoweContributing WritersJoyce BakiKeith McGuireSusan ShawSherrod SturrockLaw EnforcementGovernment, EducationCommunity, Businessto theEditorLETTERSThe bestway to honor Pat,I think, would be toremember every day thegreatness she had in her heart and apply it to our dailyroutine. Say a prayer, give someone a big hug, tellsomeone you love them, smile and make them laugh.Pat would love this because that is who she was.We all miss her everyday, but just remember, shehas her clipboard and is already planning a big paradewith the angels. Theme title: “Pat’s Parade.”God Bless you all!Sally Donaldson, presidentNorth Beach House and Garden Clubpressure tests. SMILE provided 10 camp scholarshipsfor youngsters to attend the 6-week summer sessionat East St. John Youth Center and made start-of-yearschool supplies available for those in need.In addition to Food Pantry and Thrift Shop activities,SMILE organizes and participates in a number ofcommunity activities. SMILE is an Energy Assistancesite for Calvert County. In cooperation with our ninemember churches, SMILE hosts ecumenical worshipservices for the full community at Thanksgiving andon Good Friday. We also assist in the preparation ofthe Baccalaureate Service for the Patuxent High SchoolGraduates.Enrich your life by supporting SMILE (ServiceMakes Individual Lives Exciting).We are always inneed of volunteers. We encourage all members ofour community to shop in our Thrift Shop to discover“Lusby’s best-kept secret.” As a 501c(3) non-profit, wealso accept tax-deductible monetary donations. Wewelcome any help you can give SMILE so we can continueto assist those who need our help.SMILE serves southern Calvert County fromBroome’s Island Road to Solomons and is located at10290 H.G. Trueman Road, Lusby, MD.Hours of operation: Food Pantry – Wednesday andThursday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. and Saturday 9a.m. to noon.Thrift Shop – Wednesday-Friday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. andSaturday 9 a.m. to noon.Debi Jagodzinski, presidentSMILE Ecumenical Ministries, Inc.Calvert GazetteP. O. Box 250 . Hollywood, MD 20636The Calvert Gazette is a weekly newspaper providing news and information for the residents of CalvertCounty. The Calvert Gazette will be available on newsstands every Thursday. The paper ispublished by Southern Maryland Publishing Company, which is responsible for the form, content, andpolicies of the newspaper. The Calvert Gazette does not espouse any political belief or endorse anyproduct or service in its news coverage. Articles and letters submitted for publication must be signedand may be edited for length or content. The Calvert Gazette is not responsible for any claims madeby its advertisers.