In a recent letter to Governor Martin O’Malley the Prince George’s County Educators’ Association (PGCEA) expressed opposition to the Governor’s proposal to shift a portion of teacher pension costs from the state to the counties.  Association President, Kenneth B. Haines, wrote that his organization “stands in opposition to this proposal in its current form.”

 The adoption of your plan would represent a giant-step backward on the issue of statewide equity in public education. The more affluent jurisdictions will find themselves more able to absorb the cost and thereby maintain a competitive edge in hiring and retaining highly-qualified educators. Coping with the increase in retirement costs will hinder less affluent jurisdictions from offering competitive public schools.

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PGCEA believes that this plan would ultimately prove harmful to both children and public employees. It is for these reasons that we stand in opposition to this provision of the proposed Budget Reconciliation & Finance Act.