Pensions

• Sequester Squeezes Massachusetts Judiciary
• Source: Boston Globe   |   Massachusetts   |   April 4, 2013
• Nationwide, the judiciary’s budget has been cut nearly $350 million for the 2013 fiscal year, leading to the layoffs or involuntary furloughs of 2,000 employees, according to the court system.

• Indiana Could Be 1st to Require Armed Employees in Schools
• Source: Indianapolis Star   |   Indiana   |   April 3, 2013
• Legislation approved Tuesday by the House Education Committee would mandate the creation of a protection officer for each school.
• 3 Comments

• In Atlanta Cheating Scandal, All But 4 Turned Themselves In
• Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution   |   Atlanta   |   April 3, 2013
• Some of the educators spend several hours in jail before posting bond amounts starting at $40,000.

• Oregon Explores Treadmill Desks for State Workers
• BY: Stateline   |   Oregon   |   April 1, 2013
• The legislature is exploring the use of the desks to decrease the health risks associated with sitting at a desk too long.
• 1 Comments

• Atlanta School Officials to Start Turning Themselves In
• Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution   |   Atlanta   |   April 1, 2013
• The first of almost three dozen indicted educators are expected to walk through the doors of the Fulton County Jail Monday to be processed as accused felons related to alleged cheating on standardized test scores and the covering up of those actions.

• D.C. Government Judges Fighting to Unionize for the 1st Time
• Source: Washington Post   |   District of Columbia   |   April 1, 2013
• Now a group of city administrative law judges is seeking to organize for the first time, and the months-long effort has generated frustration among union advocates who think Mayor Vincent C. Gray has failed to match his pro-labor rhetoric with action.
• 1 Comments

• Teachers Fear Speed of New Pay Plan in Florida
• Source: Miami Herald   |   Florida   |   April 1, 2013
• Teachers have serious issues with the complicated new formula that will be used to evaluate them and determine pay raises.

• Why Kentucky's Pension Reform Has Some Governments Yawning
• BY: Liz Farmer   |   April 1, 2013
• Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear calls its pension reform “a good solution to a thorny problem." But the state’s local governments are far less impressed.
• 3 Comments

• Stockton Bankruptcy Sets Stage for Pension Battle
• BY: Liz Farmer   |   April 1, 2013
• Some say the ruling in Stockton, Calif.'s case could lead to a U.S. Supreme Court decision on how bankrupt cities deal with their pension liabilities.

• Unemployment Rate Falls in 22 States
• BY: Mike Maciag   |   March 29, 2013
• View updated jobs data for each state.

• Pension Reform Success Stories
• BY: Liz Farmer   |   April 2013
• Most states and many municipalities have passed some kind of pension reform in recent years, but only a few did so in a way that addresses the immediate unfunded liability of their plans.
• 6 Comments

• Is Mesa Mayor Scott Smith Arizona’s Next Governor?
• BY: Ryan Holeywell   |   April 2013
• The businessman-turned-mayor is turning Mesa around while leading the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Could this moderate Republican bring his pragmatism and policy knowledge to the governorship next?

• How to Insult Government Workers
• BY: Mark Funkhouser   |   March 29, 2013
• There are lots of problems with pay for performance, but one of the most salient is that it implies that employees are slackers.
• 9 Comments

• The Trouble with GASB
• BY: Liz Farmer   |   March 28, 2013
• In the world of public finance, a long-running debate over what’s included in state and local financial statements is reaching new heights.
• 1 Comments