Series 2558: Constituent Correspondence, 2000-2003
35780
From: <Talbert268@cs.com>
To: Governor Musgrove
CC: vrobertson@mail.house.state.us; jmayo@mail.lbo.state.ms.us; wjennings@mail.lbo.state.ms.us
Created: 6/23/2000 9:28 AM
Subject: PERS robbery of state employee's money
Message:
Dear Governor and Representatives:
Since I know you are all extremely busy people, I will try to keep this e -
mail as brief as possible. If you are like me, you probably don't like to
read long messages.
Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Lynne Talbert. I am married
to Mike Talbert, who is a truck driver for Saia Motor Freight. We have two
children, Brad - 17 years old and Lauren - 14 years old, who live at home.
When I married Mike 20 years ago, he had two children, Andy and Wendy. At
the time we married Andy was 6 years old and Wendy was 4 years.
I was able to stay at home with the children and not work outside the home
until 1990. At this time Lauren began Kindergarten. In order to be able to
make a little "pocket change" , I began as a Teacher Assistant and School Bus
Driver, for Walls Elementary School in DeSoto County. I absolutely loved my
jobs. This was the perfect set up for someone who wanted to be able to stay
at home with her children
This summer I began to reflect on my life - take account of how things are
going. I have always missed having a time in my married life when Mike and
I could be alone. Therefore, I decided to resign from being a Teachers
Assistant. I will continue to drive the school bus.
I also began to think about my retirement package. (I must tell you, I am 42
years old. So I guess this sounds like a mid-life crisis.) I began
unwillingly contributing to the Mississippi Public Employees Retirement
System in 1990. The amount taken for the retirement account has always been
withdrawn from both jobs. Several years ago, I was notified, along with
other bus drivers, that bus drivers would have a choice about contributing to
the retirement fund. I phoned the payroll department to stop the deduction
from my bus check and was told that since I was a teacher assistant, I would
still have to contribute to the fund from both pay checks.
Now that I will no longer be a teacher assistant, I was looking forward to
investing my own money. I spoke with my boss at the Transportation
Department and was told it is now manditory for everyone to contribute to
the fund. Since 1990, I have contributed (as of June 30, 2000) $9,691.45.
The interest I have been paid is (are you ready for this?) $1,317.34.
I realize the need for a retirement plan. Everyone needs one. However, the
one I have with PERS will not do. I have been aware of this for sometime.
But, because my income was so minute and money was already being taken out
for retirement, I couldn't afford to invest any more money.
I invite you to visit the site of PERS (www.pers.state. ms.us) Check the
market value of the investments.
I have never had an opportunity to request how my money was invested.
Believe me when I tell you, I am an educated person - very capable of
decieding how and when my money should be spent. I am well aware how much
money I could make with MY money.
I know this system has been in place for longer than any of you has been in
office. I hope and pray you will correct it. It isn't fair. If you really
think about it the whole concept of PERS sounds like communism. - We all
work for the good of the state. I, for one, am working for the good of
Lynne Talbert.
I am going to make a formal request to the Director of PERS - Frank Ready and
the Board of Director, for them to turn my contributions over to me minus any
income tax. I feel I should owe no penalty.
Sorry for the length of this. PLEASE
HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lynne Talbert
- Attachment Filename: C:\archives\governor\mail\Governor Musgrove\_attach\PERS robbery of state employee's money\Mime.822
Attachments
pers_robbery_of_state_employee/mime.822