Source LCPR Another session draws to a close. Important to MNCORA is that the COLA cap will raise from 2.5 to 3% and employee and employer contributions will lower . Also Probation and 911 Dispatchers will get their own pension , which means attempts to fold them into our pension are done. Sadly once again our attempt to get a seat on PERA's Board died in the LCPR Committee. Because the session is over it will have to begin from scratch with the new legislature.

In may of 1987 President Ronald Reagan proclaimed May 3rd as National Correctional Officer Week! Now, Therefore, I, Ronald Reagan, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim the week beginning May 3, 1987, as National Correctional Officers Week. I call upon all Americans to observe this week with appropriate activities and ceremonies. Full Proclamation

Another Legislative Session is passing and our Bill to add a PERA Correctional Plan seat to the PERA Board has once again not made it out of the Pension Committee! HF708 and SF1556 was authored by Rep. Peggy Scott, Rep. Harry Niska, Sen. Cal Bahr (who introduced the Bill) and Sen. Jim Abeler.  The Bill was opposed last session by PERA because they objected to an even numbered board.  So this year we had Rep. Peggy Scott amend the Bill so that one of the existing elected seats would be a dedicated PERA Correctional Plan member. Pension Commission Chair Nick Frentz shot it down.  Rep. Scott's Office emailed MNCORA after contacting Sen. Frentz stating:  " He has indicated that granting an exception in this case could lead to similar requests from other entities seeking the same considerations." MNCORA thanks Rep. Peggy Scott, Rep. Harry Niska, Sen. Cal Bahr and Sen. Jim Abeler for authoring the Bill. This is an election year. Remember those who supported us and ...

It's nearing the end of the legislative session so here's a snapshot of where we are at. First the positive. SF4721/HF4514 has passed the Pension Committee. This Bill lowers PERA Correctional Plan Contributions and Employer Contributions as well as raising the COLA Cap from 2.5% to 3%. Read the summary here   https://www.lcpr.mn.gov/documents/mtgmaterials/2026/2026.04.07/SF4721-HF4514%20Summary.pdf MNCORA submitted written testimony supporting this Bill.  Now for the Bad. Bill HF708/ SF1556 to add a PERA Correctional Officer seat to the PERA Board is stalled.  Last session Senator Cal Bahr sat with MNCORA President Wade Laszlo and introduced the Bill to the Pension Committee. The Bill was heard last session but Pension Committee Chair Senator Nick Frentz laid it over. Meaning no vote was taken to move it out of Committee.  PERA opposed this Bill because it would make the PERA Board even numbered (like the Teachers). We were advised that Amending the Bill to mak...

  MNCORA has submitted a letter of support for  SF4721 (Frentz) ;  HF4514 (Lillie) : PERA Correctional; reducing the employee and employer contribution rates and increasing the postretirement adjustments. If passed this Bill will lower PERA Correctional Plan members contributions from 6.83 to just 6% and the Employer Contribution from 10.25 to 9% of salary!

  "America is careening toward a fiscal crisis that makes 2008 look manageable, yet most taxpayers remain unaware that it is coming. State and local governments currently owe  $1.37 trillion  more in pension benefits than they have saved to pay them, per the Equable Institute, and that uses accounting standards governments themselves prefer.  Apply the market-based discount rates Stanford economist  Joshua Rauh of the Hoover Institution  considers the only honest methodology, and the true shortfall reaches  $5.1 trillion , roughly the annual GDP of Japan. This a structural death spiral.  Rising pension costs force tax increases and service cuts, which drive out residents and businesses, which shrinks the tax base, which forces still higher taxes, until something breaks.  We have already seen a road map for what “breaks” looks like.  It is called Detroit." Full Story American Thinker