Chuck Cullen, CMERA President, appeared before members of City Council at their April 17, 2024 meeting, to let them know CRS retirees have deep concerns about the Mayor’s Futures Commission final report. The following is the transcript of Chuck’s testimony.
Dear Mayor and Members of City Council
I am Chuck Cullen, the President of the Cincinnati Municipal Employees Retirement Association (CMERA).
Some may say that it is too early to talk about the recommendations contained in the Futures Commission Report. But for retirees, it is not too early. Retirees have already experienced a reduction in pension and the COLA as well as a loss and/or decline of benefits. The City no longer pays for our dental and vision insurance. It has eliminated Medicare reimbursement. Our health care premiums have risen as well as our annual deductible. Even our families have less to bury us with because of the reduction in our death benefit. So, while the City considers its future, please consider ours.
Not all retirees are eligible for Social Security and most of those who do receive it are subject to a deduction up to 40% because of the City pension. Many never envisioned the need for additional retirement savings because of the promises made by the City years ago. And most of us are too old to return to work.
We realize that the report makes only one mention of possible further reductions in pension or benefits, but we remember the not-to-distant past when our futures were upended with multiple reductions. So, that is why we are worried and concerned and some of us perhaps, a little scared. After all, the report already has classified us as an albatross (page 12). We never considered ourselves an albatross while we worked for the City so please, please don’t consider us one now.
Thank You.
4/17/2024