Campaign Unavailable

We're sorry, this alert is no longer available. If you would like to learn more about ways you can take action, please visit Ohio Federation of Teachers.

The short explanation of this alert was:

In September 2008, Rep. Scott Oelslager (R-Canton) introduced HB 315. The bill calls for increasing public teachers’ contributions to STRS Ohio by 2.5 percent and their employers’ contributions by 2.5. percent of teacher payroll to create an ongoing, dedicated revenue stream for the STRS Ohio Health Care Program. These increases would be phased in over a five-year period, in .5% increments. This gradual phase-in that will generate approximately $94 million in the first year and about $500 million for the health care fund at the end of five years on an annual, ongoing basis.

For a teacher earning $40,000 a year, the proposed contribution increase means an additional deduction of about $8 per paycheck during the first year. By the end of the five years, the total deduction per paycheck will be about $40. And, by requiring employers to contribute an additional 2.5 percent, money for salary increases will move off the bargaining table.

The bill is designed to address a pending problem of a bankrupt funding mechanism for education retirees’ health care coverage. The looming shortfall is expected to start in 2010 with funding being fully depleted by 2020 if the problem is not addressed. Rep. Oelslager introduced a similar bill in the 126^th General Assembly.

If you would like to view details on this alert, please visit here.