TYLER (KYTX) - The struggling economy has retired Texas teachers worried about their financial futures.
Texas Senator Kevin Eltife is assuring the retired teachers of Smith County that their pensions are safe, for now.
Senator Eltife says this past session was extremely difficult, but considering the massive budget cuts, there were fewer blows to the Teacher Retirement System than expected.
As the Texas legislature looked at a daunting $15 - 20 billion shortfall going into their last session, many retired teachers became worried - but Senator Eltife explained to a room full of retired teachers that their retirement care premiums will not increase, as previously feared.
"We're in difficult economic times," Senator Eltife says, "so they want to know that their pension funds are safe and sound, which they are, The legislation put 200 million dollars into their funds, TRS Care and the retirement system this session. So I think the legislation stepped up and took care of the pensions this session which is a good thing
WB 00:02:34:02 That helps draw teachers into the profession for one thing, and it also assures them that they will have an income when they are retired, that they don't have to worry about not having any kind of retirement because hardly any teachers are covered by social security
Senator Eltife says a main goal is to keep the promise made to retired teachers about maintaining pension funds.
Many retired teachers worry that cuts to retirement benefits could keep new teachers from entering Texas schools, and that's why Senator Eltife says he'll keep fighting for them.
Senator Eltife says there is still a lot of work to do to keep benefits the same for retired teachers, as more cuts come to the education system, and the state budget in general.
