System in dire need of overhaul

Published 3:17 pm Wednesday, June 5, 2013

The recent move by two Republican Clark County commissioners to appoint Don Benton to a highly-compensated position at Clark County is objectionable for several reasons and should be reversed. (May 2 article, “State Sen. Don Benton hired for Clark County job.”) Everyone involved deserves to have this position filled by a competitive process.

However, in addition to the Clark County commissioners correcting their mistake, the Legislature also needs to make changes to the retirement system to prevent the kind of abuse represented by this action and others like it. Let’s look at the math.

According to his website, Mr. Benton has served for 20 years in the state Senate and so has at least 20 years of service credit in the state retirement system (PERS). Assuming he stays in the Senate five more years and is compensated at $42,000 a year, he would be eligible for a pension of approximately $21,000 (25 years X 2 percent X 42,000.)

However, if Mr. Benton works just five years in the new position (and is compensated at the top of the range), his pension would increase to around $68,500 (25 years X 2 percent X 137,000), an annual difference of $47,500. Mr. Benton’s contributions to the system cannot cover this extraordinary increase. You, I, and future generations of taxpayers will foot this bill.

The recent attention to Gov. Gregoire’s pension is misplaced. She has more than earned every penny the system will pay her. If Republican legislators are concerned about PERS pension costs, they should first make sure the system cannot be “conned” by the kind of move Mr. Benton is trying to make. They should also make sure they are not participants in such abuses before claiming any moral high ground on the state’s retirement system.

Chris Richards

Camano Island