If there’s one thing Alaskans can agree on, it’s a growing frustration over the political process. We elect politicians, regardless of political party, to represent our views and help find solutions to the challenges we face.
For years, the Alaska Legislature has heard about the growing problems with recruiting and retaining public sector workers such as teachers, police and firefighters. I’m an educator and the father of three kids who attend the Anchorage School District. There are teacher shortages in every district, and each year I witness more and more of my colleagues deciding to leave the profession or move to another state. A 2017 study shows that teacher turnover costs districts more than $20,000 per employee, or roughly $20 million a year. This year, the Anchorage School District estimated that the cost of recruiting a teacher is approximately $28,000. The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development studied this issue and found that Alaska’s current retirement plan was a major factor for educators. Our state is unique in that it’s the only one in the nation where teachers do not have access to a defined-benefit pension plan and cannot participate in Social Security. In addition, a majority of educators are trained and recruited from out of state. And once they accept a position in Alaska, any previous Social Security benefits may be reduced because of the Federal Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset. Simply put, Alaska has the worst retirement system in the nation for educators, and taxpayers are paying the price for those we need to replace every year.
Senate Bill 88, introduced by Republican Sen. Cathy Giessel, would address this issue. After scrutiny and multiple financial analyses, it gained bipartisan support and passed the Senate on Jan. 31. Teresa Ghilarducci, a nationally recognized expert in retirement security, testified that the most conservative estimates show this plan could save the state up to $76 million a year.
The bill is currently in a House State Affairs subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Craig Johnson.
They heard SB 88 once on Feb. 13, with Johnson saying he intended to hear the bill again and take action. But for almost a month, nothing has happened. In the meantime, educators are making decisions about whether they will stay or leave the profession.
For me, this is what is frustrating about the political process: inaction. It’s one thing to support or oppose a bill, that’s understandable. But far too many times, Alaskans have lost trust in their elected officials by watching the issues they care about ignored and obstructed. SB 88 is an example where legislators from all political parties have come together to help solve Alaska’s massive recruitment and retention issue. But a few extreme, ideological legislators in the House are choosing to keep this bill from consideration, further exacerbating the problem.
— Jacob Bera
Chugiak
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