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NCRGEA Legislative Update: North Carolina’s 2023 Budget Takes a Good Shot But Misses Mark

Patti Dukes on June 29, 2022

June 28, 2022

This week, the legislative leadership rolled out a comprehensive budget addressing many current and anticipated matters, including recession and employee recruitment and retention. While doing so; however, the budget failed to support both active and retired government employees as had been hoped.

Retirees will receive an additional 1 percent bonus to an already scheduled 3 percent bonus this October. In all, retirees will receive a 6 percent bonus for the two-year 2021-2023 biennium, having received a 2 percent bonus in 2021, and 4 percent this fall. 

This past January, local government retirees, who are typically not included in general fund appropriations, receive a 2 percent bonus from LGERS Board of Directors, to be distributed as required by law in October 2022. Investment returns from the local government retirement system funded the bonus.

“I’d like to thank our legislative leadership for the grueling work they’ve done to create the budget,” said NCRGEA Executive Director Tim O’Connell. “It’s clear to me, though, that our legislative leadership remains somewhat deafened to the needs of retirees. While we recognize the impact 6 percent in bonus money has and will have on retirees – and it’s a positive impact – we have yet to make up for the years of pension value loss retirees have suffered since the Great Recession. 

“While we will continue to fight for our retirees, we do indeed recognize and thank legislative leadership for providing the largest bonus money seen in many years, and one of the largest in the United States. But we have more work to do.” 

No budget sails smoothly, and this year’s budget may experience some bumps in the days to come. House Minority Leader Robert Reives said, “I think it’s going to be a fight,” while others are calling on Gov. Roy Cooper to veto the non-amendable conference report. 

State Treasurer Dale Folwell praised the bonus and efforts by the General Assembly to provide additional money for retirees. “They’ve fully funded the pension plan and the state health plan, and given retirees one of the biggest bonuses in years. And paid for it.” (Will Doran, News and Observer).

Active employees will see increases starting July 1, with additional boosts from last year’s long session raises of 2.5 percent. In all, active TSERS will receive a 3.5 percent increase in pay. The average teacher pay increase will be 4.2 percent, with additional incentive bonus pay for teachers in underserved counties.

When questioned during the press conference yesterday by reporters, Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger said the budget, “was the right budget for North Carolina at this time.” Leaders said that the 2022 budget was built to help the state weather current and predicted economic trends and also provide needed infrastructure improvements in state government facilities, water and sewer, as well as the sale of several exhausted properties. 

Staff and consultants for NCRGEA will continue to study the budget very closely for any additional items of interest to retirees. 

You can find the bill of text of state budget here: H103-PCCS20003-MLXR-9 (ncleg.gov)

Clifton Metcalf Named First Recipient of NCRGEA Lifetime Public Service Award

Patti Dukes on June 14, 2022

Clifton Blake Metcalf, of Lake Junaluska in District 1, was named the first recipient of NCRGEA’s Lifetime Public Service Award, which recognizes a retired government employee who has demonstrated excellence in public administration or service delivery and who made significant contributions as a career public servant in North Carolina. 

The award was announced during the Celebration of Public Service Week on June 6, 2022. Dr. Dudley Flood, retired educator, and administrator in the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, presented Metcalf with the award. 

“Clifton Metcalf has committed his life to his family, church, community, state, and higher education for the people of North Carolina,” said Zeta Smith, the NCRGEA member who nominated him for the award.”He has lived a life defined by service.”

With a career spanning 52 years, Metcalf began working in the private sector as an Editor for The Mountaineer newspaper before moving into public higher education. There, he spent 23 years in service as a senior leader at various North Carolina institutions. His work included leading the news operations at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was later promoted to Associate Vice Chancellor for University Relations and Associate Vice President for State Government Affairs. At Western Carolina University, he served as the Vice-Chancellor for Advancement and External Affairs. 

Metcalf has also lived a life committed to volunteerism. He was the founding president of Haywood County Schools Foundation, Inc. which provides scholarships and grants to students and staff of the school system. Appointed to various boards, such as the Haywood County Public Library Board of Trustees and the University of North Carolina Center for Public Television, he has also served in other leadership roles, including as a coach for the Waynesville Youth Association. As a coach, Metcalf built a reputation for equity and inclusion notable in the 1970s. One 9-year-old black boy, asked by an assistant coach why he wanted to be on the team, simply said, “Because everybody in my neighborhood knows Mr. Metcalf don’t care what color you are.”

Retirement did not slow down his volunteer efforts as Metcalf continued to build community and positively impact lives. Whether it was as a Board member for the Mountain Area Health Education Center of the UNC School of Medicine, NCRGEA’s Board of Directors, or as a church deacon, he remained active in giving back to others. This service resulted in him being recognized with multiple service awards, in addition to NCRGEA’s Lifetime Public Service Award.

“I was very blessed, over a period of many years, to have good teams to work with. One person can’t do it alone,” Metcalf stated upon receiving the award. “I’m very proud that the association is now recognizing that public spirit in North Carolina, and I hope the state will do the same. The people who work for North Carolina are the ones who keep the universities, the Department of Transportation, and other agencies going every day.”

Treasurer Folwell Announces $1.5 Million in Savings for State Health Plan Members on Medicare Advantage Plans in 2023

Patti Dukes on June 10, 2022

Humana Medicare Advantage Plan Members to See Zero Cost Dialysis Care and Lab Services in Urgent Care Centers and Outpatient Facilities

(Raleigh, N.C.) – State Treasurer Dale R. Folwell, CPA, and the State Health Plan (Plan) Board of Trustees today announced benefit changes for Humana® Medicare Advantage members offering a substantial decrease in the cost of critical dialysis and lab services costs, saving impacted members more than $1.5 million for the 2023 benefit year.

State Health Plan Medicare-eligible members can choose either the Humana Medicare Advantage Base Plan (90/10) or Enhanced Plan (90/10). The new copay reductions for 2023 in the Humana Group Medicare Advantage Plans provide:

  • Lab services at an urgent care facility (currently $40 copay Base; $10 copay Enhanced) will now have a $0 copay
  • Dialysis services at an outpatient facility (currently 20% coinsurance on both plans) will now have a $0 copay
  • Dialysis services at a dialysis center (currently 20% coinsurance on both plans) will now have a $0 copay

“I’m proud to announce this big win for our Medicare Advantage plan members. We’re always looking at ways to improve this benefit by making it more affordable for those that utilize it,” said Treasurer Folwell. “We are excited that Humana continues to partner with the Plan on ways to lower costs and improve health care for our members, who have faithfully taught, protected and served throughout their careers.”

The new benefit changes represent the latest savings in the 2020 Medicare Advantage Fully Insured Plan and Related Services contract with Humana. Annual cost savings under the contract will total almost $600 million over the course of the three-year contract.

The State Health Plan, a division of the Department of State Treasurer, provides health care coverage to more than 750,000 teachers, state employees, retirees, current and former lawmakers, state university and community college personnel, and their dependents.

NCRGEA Appoints Tim O’Connell As New Executive Director

Patti Dukes on June 10, 2022

Raleigh, NC, June 10. 2022 — NCRGEA announced today that Tim O’Connell has been appointed the organization’s new Executive Director. An experienced nonprofit leader, O’Connell will succeed outgoing Interim Executive Director, Bryan Setser, and assume responsibilities on June 15, 2022. 

O’Connell has more than 30 years of experience with nonprofit organizations. He most recently served as Director of Advancement Operations, Membership, and Annual Giving for the North Carolina Museum of Art. In the past, he has also served as the Associate Executive Director for the North Carolina State University Alumni Association and the Executive Director and Vice President of Operations for YMCA of NWNC. 

“We immediately knew Tim would be a wonderful leader for NCRGEA and its new future,” said Vann Langston, NCRGEA President. “He is a man who loves public servants, understands the digital world, and is experienced in advocacy and communication. There is no doubt that Tim is committed to our members’ personal welfare and the organization’s strategic plan.” 

While at the North Carolina Museum of Art, O’Connell led a talented Museum team responsible for revenue generation and advancement operations including annual giving, membership marketing, major gifts, corporate sponsorships, event management, CRM operations, and gift processing. Donors to NCMA Foundation increased 91% over two years while membership exceeded budgeted revenue targets.

“North Carolina’s state and local public servants shoulder much of the work in ensuring we live in a healthy, safe, and educated society. As retirees, they continue to be an integral part of their communities’  social, civic, and economic vibrancy. As Executive Director of the NCRGEA, I look forward to championing the interests and well-being of the retired teachers, firefighters, sanitation workers, and all other public servants who have done so much in making North Carolina a great place to live today,” said O’Connell.

O’Connell received two master’s degrees from North Carolina State University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He has also been recognized as an Outstanding Student Adviser by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education and was a speaker for the UNC Advancement Symposium. Under his leadership, various YMCA programs were also given the Winston-Salem Journal’s Readers’ Choice Award for multiple years.

On June 10, the last day of the NCRGEA’s Celebration of Public Service Week, O’Connell was formally introduced as the new Executive Director. He also shared his vision for NCRGEA in an interview with President Vann Langston.

NCRGEA is an organization that advances, promotes, and protects the benefits, interests, and well-being of North Carolina’s retired state and local public servants. It is the voice and go-to resource for government retirees.

NC Supreme Court Ruling On State Retirees’ Health Insurance Benefits: NCRGEA Releases Statement

Patti Dukes on March 12, 2022

“We are extremely pleased with the decision filed by the North Carolina Supreme Court today holding that eligible State employees have a vested right in a noncontributory health plan for life.  This Association has worked on this case to support retirees’ rights for almost 10 years.”

“As the Court stated, ‘These employees reasonably relied on the promise of this benefit in choosing to accept employment with the State.  They are entitled to the benefit of their bargain, which includes eligibility to enroll in a premium-free plan offering the same or greater coverage value as the one available to them when their rights vested.’”

“This decision has been a long time in coming.  We are grateful to the attorneys, led by Christopher Whelchel and Michael Carpenter at  the Gray Layton Kersh firm in Gastonia, with great assistance from attorneys Sam McGee and Gary Jackson, who have worked so hard for so long to protect retirees’ rights.  We are also grateful to AARP and the North Carolina Association of Educators for their support.”

“We agree with the Court’s determination that this dispute raises issues of profound importance to the hundreds of thousands of dedicated public employees who devoted their lives to serving their fellow North Carolinians, often for far less immediate remuneration than would have been available to them in the private sector.”

The Lake Case court decision may be viewed on the North Carolina Judicial Branch website. 

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