Excellent Turnout for NCRGEA Recognition Table at NC Museum of Art Reopening
NCRGEA’s Recognition Table for North Carolina Public Servants at the North Carolina Museum of Art’s reopening on Saturday, October 8, 2022 was a great success. Both the general public and active NCRGEA members stopped by for information, to pick up swag, and to enter our organization’s drawing for a $500 travel giveaway.
A big thank you goes out to the following volunteers who showed up on a beautiful fall day to work: Delores Parker (member, District 8); Gary Ackley (member, District 8); Laura Kupatt (associate member & Gary’s wife); Suzanne Merrill (NCRGEA Board member); Phyllis Fulton (member, District 8); Lillie Costin (member, District 8); Chris Whitten (staff); Tom McCollum (staff); Deryl Davis Fulmer (staff); and Tim O’Connell (Executive Director).
Board and Staff Represent Members at NC COA Annual Meeting and Luncheon
NCRGEA board and staff were out in force at the North Carolina Coalition on Aging Annual Meeting and Luncheon on September 23, 2022. The event celebrated the support NC COA’s membership provides to older adults in North Carolina. Guests from a variety of aging industries enjoyed a keynote speaker highlighting aging issues and the announcement of Pioneer Award recipients.
From left to right are Tom McCollum, Director of Communications and Engagements; Dr. Deryl Fulmer, Community Liaison and a member of NC Coalition on Aging’s Board of Directors; Josephine Lanier, Director of Insurance Services; Suzanne Merrill, Board member (District 8); Karl Sanders, NCRGEA Vice President (District 5); and Tim O’Connell, Executive Director.
Photo Credit belongs to NCCOA: https://lnkd.in/eK3RSaA2
NCRGEA Welcomes New Director of Communications and Engagement, Tom McCollum
Please join us in welcoming Tom McCollum, our new Director of Communications and Engagement, to NCRGEA. His accomplishments include 16+ years as the Fort Bragg Garrison Director Of Strategic Communications and Public Relations and a background in social media consulting. He also served as the Communications and Media Advisor to the Afghani Ministries of the Interior and Defense with NATO and spent 22 years as a U.S. Army Infantry and Special Forces Officer.
With his dynamic skill set, NCRGEA is excited to see the innovative ideas Tom will bring to the organization.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Governmental Retirees Association Hosts NCRGEA Executive Director as Speaker
NCRGEA Executive Director, Tim O’Connell, was one of the guest speakers at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Governmental Retirees Association meeting this week. The program agenda also included informative presentations by the Charlotte Metro Police Department and the Charlotte Fire Department.
CMGRA meets the last Tuesday of every other month so if you are a retired public servant, consider joining them at their next meeting!
U.S. Supreme Court Response Date on Lake Case Approaching
We know that many members of the Association remain interested in the Lake Case and its related current developments.
Here is a condensed history of the case: In 2011, the General Assembly reduced the standard health plan for State retirees from a noncontributory 80/20 plan to a 70/30. Twenty-eight retirees, led by former Supreme Court Chief Justice I. Beverly Lake, Jr., filed suit in 2012 to preserve and protect state retirees’ health care benefits.
Over the last ten years, the State of North Carolina asserted a variety of procedural and substantive defenses to test the merits of the case. In 2016, the Superior Court Judge presiding over the case certified the case as a class action, affecting some 220,000 state retirees who had vested benefits as of 2011.
The Superior Court Judge ruled that the plaintiff retirees were entitled to judgment against the State. The Judge’s Order specified that damages would be assessed after hearing expert witness evidence.
The State appealed, and a cumbersome appellate process ensued. In October of 2021, the case finally was heard in the North Carolina Supreme Court for a decision on the merits of the case. On March 11 of this year, the Supreme Court held that state retirees do have enforceable contract rights. The Court held that each retiree in the
class is entitled for life to the noncontributory health care benefits offered by the state at the time that retiree vested in retirement health care benefits. Those benefits are a part of that retiree’s contract with the State.
The Supreme Court sent the case back to the Superior Court for a determination of how much in damages each retiree should receive. In other words, what are the extra costs each incurred as a result of the 2011 action of the General Assembly?
Each side will hire experts, actuaries, to determine what those damages are and present evidence to the Superior Court. It will take several months for any more specific information to be available from the Superior Court. It should be stressed that this case covers only State government retirees, not local government.
On June 9, 2022, the State of North Carolina filed a petition for Writ of Certiorari with the United States Supreme Court requesting that the U. S. Supreme Court consider an appeal of the North Carolina Supreme Court’s decision. The Plaintiffs’ response is due on August 15, 2022.
NCRGEA Visits Humana Neighborhood Center in Garner, NC
On July 15, 2022, NCRGEA enjoyed learning about resources available at Humana Neighborhood Centers to State Health Plan Medicare participants. In the photo from left to right are Tim O’Connell, NCRGEA Executive Director; Lisa Nannini, Humana; Nichole Arnott, Humana; and Deryl Fulmer, NCRGEA Community Liaison.
For more information on the neighborhood centers, visit https://www.humananeighborhoodcenter.com/.
2022 State Budget Signed by Governor Roy Cooper
Governor Roy Cooper signed the state 2022 budget Monday, July 11, one day before it would become law without his signature. The $27.9 billion budget provides pay increases for teachers, state government workers, and raises per hour wages for non-salaried state workers. The budget also provides an additional 1 percent state retiree bonus to an already appropriated 3 percent bonus that will hit bank accounts and mailboxes in October.
While legislative leadership and the governor worked together more closely than any other year in Cooper’s tenure, the session did not come without hiccups. Two of the anticipated larger pieces of legislation expected to see light in this year’s summer short session, Medicaid expansion and medical marijuana, hit obstacles that sent lawmakers home without resolution.
Although these major efforts may be postponed for now, legislative leadership praised the budget as both bipartisan and fiscally responsible.
“I’m pleased to see the governor finally signed the budget,” Sen. Joyce Krawiac (R—Forsyth) said. The healthcare, DHHS appropriations, and pensions chairwoman added, “This is a fiscally responsible budget that had bipartisan support. It continues the sensible spending that has guided our state for more than a decade.”
In December 2021, state retirees received a 2 percent bonus. In October 2022, retirees will receive a 4 percent bonus, totaling 6 percent in all for the 2021-2022 biennium. The Local Government Retirement Board of Trustees approved a 2 percent bonus in January that will reach local retirees this October.
The budget also provides ample rainy day fund increases to abate inflation, additional mental health support for public schools, and a substantial increase in public works funding for rural areas.
House Speaker Tim Moore issued a statement regarding the governor’s signature.
“We are pleased Gov. Cooper signed this responsible spending plan into law. Moving forward, we are committed to working together to improve healthcare, access and expand Medicaid, while providing the necessary safeguards to preserve the state’s fiscal health,” Moore said.