Out-of-control teacher pensions

The recent comments in the Fence Post by Don Young are all over the map and distort the facts. You will find that proponents such as Mr. Young will use "averages" as much as possible because they include 90-year-old retirees and teachers from all over the state and/or U.S. who have considerably lower salaries and therefore pensions.

I would rather be more specific and address the situation in the suburbs where our property taxes are ridiculous. By the way, 75 percent of our property taxes go to school districts and 70 percent of the school budget is teacher and administrator compensation. Seventy percent of the referendums "for the children" are to help pay these outrageous benefits.

Let's take an example. Per public record, a high school P.E. teacher in a local suburban school district was compensated $152,000 in 2009. He is in his 50s and will retire soon. So would I. When he retires in his 50s his annual pension will be in excess of $113,000 a year. Automatic 3 percent cost-of-living increases will increase his pension to $146,000 per year at age 65. Are you with me? How does that compare to your social security? It is simply out of control.

You can thank your union-sponsored school board members, teachers unions, selfish union members and yourself for not paying attention. There are websites out there that spell it out for those of you that won't take my word for it. Get informed.

Al Palash

Winfield