Latest news with #PERB
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Was a candidate for a top state job ‘rejected' or not?
Tyler Cummings, the deputy director of the board overseeing the Nebraska Public Employees Retirement Systems, was selected as the NPERS executive director at the pictured Jan. 27, 2025, board meeting. The governor rejected the board's selection, though Cummings has continued to serve as interim director through the start of the year. LINCOLN — A member of the Nebraska Public Employees Retirement Systems Board said Thursday that he resigned earlier this week after Gov. Jim Pillen rejected the 'best candidate' to head the agency that oversees state and school retirement plans. But Pillen's office said he hadn't 'rejected' anyone. It appears to be a case of differing interpretations of state law regarding the hiring process, and clearly represents a new interpretation of the law from the governor's office. Allen Simpson of Lincoln, a long-time PERB member who had headed the board's personnel committee, told the Examiner that the committee recently recommended the hiring of the current interim director/deputy director of the agency, Tyler Cummings. He would have filled the vacancy left when the past director, former State Treasurer and State Sen. John Murante, resigned in December. Simpson said the PERB search committee followed the same process as it had in hiring the previous three directors — do a search, and then let the governor approve it. 'They're not going to get a better candidate than Tyler Cummings,' Simpson added. He said he resigned from the board on Monday feeling that if the governor did not agree with his committee's pick, 'you probably shouldn't stay on.' 'I'm trying to say this in the most politically correct way possible,' said Simpson, who, like Pillen, is a Republican. However, later Thursday, Pillen's spokeswoman, Laura Strimple, emailed that the governor hadn't rejected anyone. Former Nebraska lawmaker expresses concern about major changes to school retirement plan Strimple said that state law requires PERB to 'work with the Governor' in selecting a director and that the Governor shall approve the applicant before the appointment proceeds to the Legislature. The state law cited by Strimple clearly states that it is the responsibility of the PERB Board 'to appoint a director to administer the systems under the direction of the board. The appointment shall be subject to the approval of the Governor and a majority of the Legislature.' An Examiner reporter could not find a clause in the chapter of state law, 84-1503, cited that mentions 'working with' the governor to select a director. And Strimple was not immediately available Thursday evening to clarify. In her earlier statement, Strimple said that 'Gov. Pillen looks forward to working with the Board to identify a highly experienced leader for NPERS.' She said that applications for the job, which had paid $205,000-a-year, are now due by May 22. When asked about the differing interpretations of law, Simpson said that while he's not an attorney, 'I can read a statute as well as anyone else.' The personnel committee, he said, used the same process as it had in three previous selection processes, and the governor had approved all three. Simpson added that he hoped that Cummings would still be considered to become director because he is highly qualified and has the respect of the retirement system staff. The issue of the reopened search for a PERB director was raised during debate in the State Legislature over a bill making major changes to the state teachers retirement plan. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Former Nebraska lawmaker expresses concern about major changes to school retirement plan
Former State Sen. Mark Kolterman of Seward returns to the Nebraska Legislature for an annual event honoring former state lawmakers. April 16, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN — A bill to reduce contributions to a state teachers retirement plan advanced toward final passage on Thursday despite a stern warning from a former Nebraska lawmaker who once guided state retirement plan policies. The measure, Legislative Bill 645, is designed to help close the state's projected $457 million budget deficit over two years by reducing the state's contributions into teacher retirement plans by about $77 million, thus freeing up that money to help close the budget gap. Former State Sen. Mark Kolterman, who headed the Legislature's Retirement Systems Committee for seven years, said that using retirement plan funds to balance the budget doesn't make financial sense, particularly when it's uncertain if investments will garner enough revenue to maintain retirement funds. 'You don't make reductions in contributions when the economy is moving in the wrong direction,' Kolterman said, noting the recent stock 'market tumble.' A member of the Nebraska Public Employees Retirement Systems Board resigned earlier this week after Gov. Jim Pillen rejected the 'best candidate' to head the agency that oversees state and school retirement plans. Allen Simpson of Lincoln, a long-time PERB member, had headed the board's personnel committee, which had recommended the hiring of the current interim director/deputy director of the agency, Tyler Cummings, to fill the vacancy left when former State Treasurer and State Sen. John Murante resigned in December. 'They're not going to get a better candidate than Tyler Cummings,' said Simpson on Thursday. Simpson said he resigned from the board on Monday feeling that if the governor did not agree with his committees' pick, 'you probably shouldn't stay on.' 'I'm trying to say this in the most politically correct way possible,' said Simpson, who, like Pillen, is a Republican. Pillen's office did not respond immediately to a request for comment Thursday afternoon. The search for a new director reportedly has been reopened. The job paid $205,000-a-year. On Thursday, State Sen. Danielle Conrad said that the 'uncertainty' with the director's job and the vacancy on the PERB board has made it more difficult to decide the best policies when it comes to state retirement plans. Advocates of LB 645, including Lincoln Sen. Beau Ballard, the current chair of the Retirement Committee, dismissed the concern, maintaining that the state can safely lower its contributions to the school retirement plan because that plan is currently nearly 100% funded, and is taking in more contributions — from teachers, local school districts and the state — than needed. Ballard has called the bill a 'win' for the state budget and for teachers, because they will see about $1,000 a year in additional take-home pay by reducing their contributions via the proposal. Kolterman commented after the state lawmakers, on a voice vote, advanced LB 645 to the final stage of debate. Prior to Thursday's debate on the bill, the former senator sent a letter — obtained by the Nebraska Examiner — to the members of the Retirement Committee outlining his objections. In the letter, Kolterman said that major changes in the state's retirement plan contributions are usually not made so hastily, because if a pension plan becomes underfunded, the state has to make up the difference. 'Any changes to retirement benefits in any of the retirement plans must be approached with great caution, study, and examination of the actuarially calculated costs,' he wrote. LB 645, he said, was 'kicking the can down the road' and delivering higher costs for taxpayers later. Kolterman pointed out that during the 2008-09 recession, the state's retirements plans lost 28% of its assets — about $2 billion — and that it took years of work to make them healthy again. He cautioned in his letter that Nebraska doesn't want to find itself in the same situation again — forced to increase funds toward pension plans. It doesn't make sense, he argued, to mess with what's working. Despite that, and despite similar warnings during floor debate on Thursday from Lincoln Sen. Danielle Conrad, the bill advanced to final reading. Ballard said that he was 'reassured' that LB 645 would not require additional state funds. He quoted from a projection that even with a 0% increase in state investment income, no additional state contribution would be needed. On Thursday, he withdrew his amendment that would have changed the state's long standing 'Rule of 85' for teachers that now allows educators, of at least 60 years of age, to retire if they have at least 25 years of service, which adds up to 85. Ballard's amendment would have allowed younger teachers, of at least 55 years of age, to retire with 30 years of service. Education groups, during a public hearing on that amendment on Wednesday, had opposed the idea out of concern that its impact — which some feared would increase retirement fund payouts — had not been studied. Conrad also withdrew a proposed amendment to ensure that the state would not be liable for covering any financial shortages in the Omaha Public Schools retirement plan, a plan that the state recently took over to manage. The senator said it was a 'belt and suspenders' amendment to continue the state's current policy of not being liable for shortages in that plan. She agreed to let fellow senators have more time to consider her proposal, and that she will reintroduce it during final round debate on LB 645. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Strike allegations lead to heated board meeting
TOWN OF TONAWANDA, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Town of Tonawanda held its first board meeting on Monday night since town supervisor Joe Emminger said that dozens of police officers will be charged with Taylor Law violations – and the police union showed up in full force in response to allegations that officers participated in an illegal strike. The gavel had to be used more than 10 times at a vocal and heated meeting. The union said that the town's disciplinary actions against its own police force are a tipping point, so much so that Andy Thompson, president of the Town of Tonawanda Police Club, made his first public comments since the situation began. 'What's happening inside of our department should alarm every person in this room, and every family in this town,' Thompson said. Much like prior meetings, Monday's was packed with those in support of the police and those critical of the officers' alleged actions. In March, the town wrapped up its investigation into the department's alleged strike, sending its findings to the state's Public Employment Relations Board. Town leaders said no terminations will come from this, but discipline – like loss of pay and fines – will be in play if PERB upholds the charges. Since the beginning, police union leaders have denied that there was any type of strike, saying, 'The PERB charges are based on a flawed investigation with fabricated information disguised as facts.' 'The whole police community in New York State … this isn't a Tonawanda issue. We're all watching this and we're all disgusted by it,' said Michael O'Meara, president of the Police Conference of New York. Numbers reported by the town showed close to 90% fewer tickets in a three-week period compared to prior years. Thompson called those numbers 'bogus,' claiming the town is only doing this because of their frustration over Town of Tonawanda Police Chief James Stauffiger's leadership. The union recently created a website stating that Stauffiger should step down. On Monday, the union issued its first-ever unanimous vote of no confidence in Stauffiger. William Krier of the the Town of Tonawanda Criminal Investigations Bureau said that the alleged actions could not be ignored. 'When an officer is found to be dishonest in their official duties, it cannot be ignored,' Krier said. 'The police club clearly feels differently as they have attempted to influence discipline for that dishonesty through a job action, a job action that has ultimately failed and backfired.' The Public Employment Relations Board will be holding a hearing on the charges before issuing its decision within the next 30-45 days. Dillon Morello is a reporter from Pittsburgh who has been part of the News 4 team since September of 2023. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tonawanda officers to be charged with Taylor's Law violations
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Dozens of police officers in the Town of Tonawanda will be charged with violating the state's Taylor Law after a town investigation found the officers participated in an illegal strike. Sources told WIVB News 4 that the town wrapped up its investigation into the alleged illegal strike last week and sent its findings to the state's public employment relations board. Letters to individual officers are set to go out this week. Town leaders said officers participated in an illegal job action by operating a ticket strike from mid-January to the first week of February. The town has said that the strike was a response from the police union after an officer — who has since resigned — was disciplined. Numbers provided by the town last month showed that 123 tickets were issued by officers during that period. Comparatively, more than 550 tickets were issued during the same period last year, more than 650 were issued in 2023, and over 430 were issued in 2022. Sources told News 4 nearly 50 officers will face Taylor Law violations — including members of the executive committee, who town leaders said both participated in the strike, and encouraged the strike. The Town of Tonawanda Police Club recently created a website stating that Tonawanda Police Chief James Stauffiger should step down. In a statement, the union said: 'The PERB charges filed against our union only proves one thing — that the Town Supervisor is more interested in needlessly wasting the taxpayers' money on retaliatory witch-hunts that only seek to persecute our essential workforce. 'As we have maintained, the PERB charges are based on an erroneous and flawed investigation with fabricated information disguised as facts.' The state's Taylor Law makes it illegal for public employees — such as teachers, correction officers and police officers — to strike. Taylor Law violations come with the possibility of loss of pay, fines, and additional discipline for misconduct. Dave Greber is an award-winning anchor and reporter who has been part of the News 4 team since 2015. See more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
