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Reichley Winter 2011 Newsletter
Reichley Winter 2011 Newsletter
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
HARRISBURG, PA
PERMIT NO. 432
Winter 2011
Upcoming Events
Special Needs Awareness Day
Saturday, March 12 Reichley to Hold Town Halls in April
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Seating is limited. Please R.S.V.P. to (610) 965-9933 or e-mail
Integrated Health Campus dreichle@pahousegop.com if you would like to attend.
250 Cetronia Road, Allentown Walk-ins are always welcome.
Consumer Credit Counseling • Wednesday, April 6
Friday, March 18
10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Macungie Institute Cetronia Fire Company
510 East Main Street, Macungie
Learn to “stretch” your income by setting priorities, establishing 18 South Scenic St., Allentown
a budget plan and saving. Presented by Consumer Credit Counseling
Services. Please R.S.V.P. to 610-965-9933.
• Saturday, April 9
College Tuition Assistance Seminar 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Thursday, March 24
7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Lehigh Lodge
Upper Milford Township Community Room Route 100, Macungie
5671 Chestnut St., Old Zionsville
This event is co-hosted by Rep. Justin Simmons (R-131).
• Saturday, April 16
On-Site Shredding Event
Saturday, April 30 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
10 a.m. to noon Bally Senior Center
Emmaus Public Library
425 Chestnut St., Bally
11 Main Street, Emmaus
Co-hosted by Emmaus Public Library. Free to the Public.
Pension Reform Measure Enacted
One of the last measures passed by pension system, but it provides taxpayers has ruled in three different cases over the
the General Assembly in November breathing room and gives the Legislature last 20 years that the Legislature cannot
was a law intended to stabilize the state time to consider more comprehensive reduce benefits for current retirees or
employee and public school employee pension reforms. employees.
pension funds, and to restrain the Act 120 basically takes three steps to • The law contains a first-of-its-kind
pressure on school district property taxes restrain increases in property taxes: “shared risk” provision. This measure
for the next five years. The legislation is • The law places limits on how much means the obligation to make up for
a good first step, but more work needs school district contributions can increase investment losses will be shifted from
to be done. over the next five years and recalculates taxpayers alone to a shared burden
Many people have contacted me to the liabilities of the pension systems over between new public employees and
express grave concerns about the impact the next 24 years. Both of these steps employers.
of these pension funds on the fiscal health will help to limit tax increases related to We have also eliminated the option
of Pennsylvania, as well as of each the pension contributions from school by which future public employees could
individual’s personal tax burden when so districts. withdraw their employee contributions
many people in the private sector have • Pension benefits for future hires in in a lump sum with interest at the point
seen a reduction or elimination of their school districts and in state government of retirement, and still collect a monthly
own pensions. will revert to 2001 levels, saving $24 pension benefit.
I voted for the legislation that became billion over the next 30 years. This These pension rollbacks affect
Act 120 of 2010 because I believed it means the pension multiplier is reduced, the Legislature and executive branch
was the better alternative than to force the vesting period is extended and the age employees as well. The law applies to
school boards to raise property taxes by to which one must work to obtain a full new lawmakers taking office after Dec.
as much as $500 per household this year pension is extended. This reversion to 1, 2010, state employees hired after Jan.
in order to meet their obligations for 2001 benefit levels is limited to only new 1, 2011, and school employees hired after
pension contributions. This law does not hires because the state Supreme Court July 1, 2011.
favor the unions, nor is it a bailout of the
Rep. Justin
Simmons (R-131)
and Rep. Reichley
present a certificate
of recognition to
Mark Feiertag,
president of
Mechanics Plus
Towing & Transport
Inc., during the
company’s grand
opening celebration
on Dec. 7.