Hundreds cram into hearing on retirement benefits

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Some 200 people jammed a committee room Wednesday and more spilled into overflow rooms to hear a Senate committee debate what are perhaps the most drastic changes in the history of Utah's public employee retirement system.

The crowd included a large number of uniformed police officers and other public employees. Members of those groups spoke against proposals by Sen. Dan Liljenquist, encouraging senators to be cautious when tinkering with the retirement system.

"Are the changes proposed being made for the right reasons?" asked Sheri Watters, speaking on behalf of the Utah Public Employees Association. "Cutting retirement benefits in half for new employees is not being fiscally responsible to future generations."

And Geoff Leonard with the Utah School Employees Association, which represents bus drivers, custodians and other school workers, urged senators to be careful.

"We don't deny there is a problem," he said, but said senators should consider all their options. "We are not saying do nothing. We are saying, go slowly. .... Implementing a decision that is wrong could be disastrous."

Lincoln Shurtz, representing the Utah League of Cities and Towns, praised Liljenquist for holding meetings for nearly a year to tackle the retirement issue, and gave its endorsement of his bills.

Liljenquist argued he wanted the bills to be voted on in that meeting, a suggestion that drew shouts of "no, no" from several in the crowd. He agreed to delay the vote until Friday.

Liljenquist says the economic downturn left a $6.5 billion long-term hole in the retirement fund, that will cost the $400 million per year to make up. He said that equates to 8,000 teachers who won't see a classroom.

"Can we really afford that level of contribution to our current benefit structure?" he asked.