On the Agenda: Teacher Pensions

(Updated 2:40 p.m)The Montgomery County Council will be briefed Tuesday on a state proposal that would make counties responsible for covering part of the cost of teacher pensions.

The council meets 9:30 a.m. Tuesday in Rockville, with pension discussion scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Panelist include: 

• DeRionne Pollard, President, Montgomery College
• Shirley Brandman, President, Montgomery County Board of Education 
• Gino Renne, President, UFCW Local 1994/MCGEO
• Tom Israel, Executive Director, MCEA
• Larry Friend, Treasurer, Friends of the Library
• Arva Jackson, Health and Children’s Services Advocate

(Original) The Montgomery County Council will be briefed Tuesday on a state proposal that would make counties responsible for covering part of the cost of teacher pensions.

The council meets 9:30 a.m. Tuesday in Rockville, with pension discussion scheduled for 10:30 a.m.

The council, County Executive Isiah Leggett and Montgomery County Public Schools System officials have been vocal opponents of Gov. Martin O’Malley’s pension shift plan, which would combine teacher pension and social security costs and then split the total 50-50 with local governments, .

Currently, local government pays the social security costs for teachers. The state picks up the tab for the teacher pensions.

O'Malley's plan also includes millions of dollars in offsets in the form of increased taxes and not asking local governments to repay about $370 million in an income tax fund earmarked for local government, .

But County Executives from across the state have said they can’t absorb the cost, and have been trying to drum up public support.

According to the county’s estimates, the shift would cost $47 million in 2013 and $315 million over the next five years. Montgomery County is already facing a $135 million deficit.