Politics & Government

Corbett Stops in Montco to Discuss Need for Pension Reform

"We are facing a pension crisis," Governor Corbett said. "Across Pennsylvania, homeowners are facing rising property taxes due to out-of-control pension costs."

Governor Tom Corbett was in Montgomery County Wednesday to discuss pension reform with local officials and residents.

Corbett met with the group at the Jarretown Hotel in Dresher.  It was part of a series of meetings aimed to educate the public about the need to pass pension reform legislation. 

Corbett is pushing for pension reform, which he says will bring much-needed property tax relief to Pennsylvania residents.

Find out what's happening in Montgomeryville-Lansdalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“We are facing a pension crisis,” Governor Corbett said. “Across Pennsylvania, homeowners are facing rising property taxes due to out-of-control pension costs.”

According to data from Corbett’s office, pension costs in Montgomery County school districts have increased by more than $89 million over the last decade.

Find out what's happening in Montgomeryville-Lansdalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“These high costs are absolutely not sustainable,” Corbett said. 

In a statement released after Wednesday’s meeting, the governor underscored that the current pension reform plan under consideration will not change benefits for any current state or public school employees or retirees.

Rising pension costs have put school districts across the Keystone State in a tough financial position. To keep up with required payments to the Pennsylvania Public School Employees’ Retirement System, known as PSERS, many districts have had to cut back on educational programs and increase class sizes. 

Rising pension obligations caused 15 Montgomery County school districts to raise property taxes over the ACT 1 index for the 2014-15 school year, according to the governor’s data.

“I urge the citizens of Pennsylvania to join in this fight and demand that the legislature address pension reform.  It is the most important fiscal challenge facing the commonwealth,” Corbett said. “Pennsylvania families and taxpayers deserve solutions from their elected officials.”


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