Sta na te li o r a E C m p SCSEA March 2009 l o h y t e u e o s Volume 39, No. 1 S S C State Service A ssociation The official publication of the South Carolina State Employees Association Legislative Report House Considers 2009-2010 General Appropriations Bill By Broadus J. Jamerson III rates, and, to the extent necessary, SCSEA Executive Director the Employee Insurance Program Now that the Ways and Means Committee has may reduce reserves to pay claims. completed its budget work, the full House of This would require that the Representatives was scheduled to increased cost to the Plan (approxi- take up the bill beginning March mately $14.9 million) be funded 9, at 10 a.m. These extraordinari- from the Plan’s reserve fund. This ly deficient monetary times have would mean no premium increase for made it all but impossible to find participants. However, if there are funding for employee and retiree insufficient surplus funds in the Plan traditional programs. reserves above the 1.5-month on- The Ways and Means Budget hand requirement and if the Plan is contained the following provisos: not authorized to run a deficit, there Marion Martin, left, and B.T. Barnes, center, discuss state employee issues 80A.39. (BCB: FY 09-10 could possibly be some adjustments. with Rep. J. Roland Smith of Aiken County during the South Carolina State Employee Compensation) - No pay increase for 89.97. (GP: Voluntary Furlough) Employees Association’s annual visit to the Capitol. (More photos on pages 8 and 9.) active state employees. - In a fiscal year in which the general funds appro- does not have grievance rights under the State Retirees will not receive a cost-of-living adjust- priated for a state agency are less than the general Employee Grievance Procedure Act who would be ment (COLA) for FY 2009-2010. In accordance funds appropriated for that agency in the prior fis- in the same proposed competitive areas and com- with legislation governing such adjustments, when cal year, or whenever the General Assembly or the petitive groups that would be contained in the the Consumer Price Index (CPI) as of Dec. 31 of Budget and Control Board implements a midyear reduction-in-force plan before the agency can the previous year is a negative, (below 1 percent) across-the-board budget reduction, agency heads implement the reduction-in-force plan. retiree COLAs cannot be granted. The CPI was .5 may institute a voluntary employee furlough pro- This action would UNFAIRLY single out percent on Dec. 31, 2008. gram of not more than 90 days per fiscal year. TERI employees who by statute are to be admin- 80A.51 (BCB: Health Plan Reserve) - When 89.109 (GP: RIF Plan TERI Employees) - istratively treated like other active employees. the Budget and Control Board establishes State Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any SCSEA is opposed to this proviso. Health Plan enrollee rates for 2010, the Budget agency planning to implement a reduction-in- 89.110. (GP: Mandatory State Agency and Control Board shall not increase enrollee force plan shall eliminate any TERI employee who Furlough Program) - In a (Continued On Page 3) INSIDE PAID Okla City, OK Okla City, Permit # 2000 U.S. POSTAGE State Employees Can Affect SCSEA’s Day At The Capitol NON-PROFIT ORG The Political Process Members of the South Carolina State If state Employees Association gathered at the employees state Capitol Jan. 27 to discuss impor- remain tant issues with their legislators. informed and involved, they can signifi- cantly affect what goes on at the state Capitol in Columbia. Page 7 Page 8 P.O. Box 8447 P.O. Columbia, S.C. 29202-8447 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED State Employees Can Succeed, But Only If We Work Together The year 2009 is here! The beginning of a new year and the beginning of deferred comp, etc. We must make sure these are spring are two occasions that lift my spirits. Everything seems fresh and new, not scaled back or dismantled. Let’s make sure that although it’s somewhat difficult to get excited when we look at the state of our state Legislature does not forget or ignore our the nation and world issues. SCSEA’s job is to pro- today. Many are in tect and promote the inter- dire straits because of e should be ests of active and retired state the economy, and “W employees. Without SCSEA’s state employees are very proud of the voice, active and retired state no exception. The employees would be forgot- media bombard us work we do and ten, and our issues would daily to make sure we not be addressed. It doesn’t don’t forget how bad things are. I learned long ago that nothing is should not hesitate just happen. I encourage you as bad as it seems. We must hold onto the hope that there is a silver to make sure your peers who lining behind every cloud. to praise the work are not members of SCSEA I know we all think things appear to be pretty bleak right now are aware of this. for state employees. A furlough is a decrease in pay. An increase in of our fellow State employees provide valuable services to every- insurance premiums is a decrease in pay. To be dismissed from a job one in our state on a daily basis. We should be very because of budget cuts is a greater loss. employees.” proud of the work we do and should not hesitate to We have a tough fight before us. It is imperative that we work praise the work of our fellow employees. We only have together and encourage others to work with us just to keep the benefits we success when we work together and take a stand to protect and promote have worked so hard for: health insurance, sick leave, annual leave, TERI, active and retired state employee programs. The SCSEA Creed We believe that public service is important to our March 2009 community, state and nation, that it demands President: Martha Keeler Executive Director: Broadus J. Jamerson III integrity, impartiality and a sense of justice, requir- South Carolina ing at all times that the public interest be placed State Employees above any personal concern. As state employees, we Association believe ours is an honorable profession dedicated to Phone: (803) 765-0680 bettering the lives of those we serve. Toll-Free: (877) 882-4025 Fax: (803) 779-6558 SCroll (ISSN 1077-0488), published quarterly, is the official publication of E-mail: [email protected] the South Carolina State Employees Association Web site: www.scsea.com 1325 Park Street • P.O. Box 8447 • Columbia, S.C. 29202-8447 Page 2 • March 2009 • SCSEA SCroll • www.scsea.com Money Matters You Can Lighten The Burden of Your Mortgage Payments The recipe for perpetual ignorance: Be satisfied with lending money – hopefully. As a result, mortgage $5,000 to the mortgage company in a lump sum your opionions and content with your knowledge.” - and refinancing are harder to obtain. Rising prop- at closing, you would reduce your interest by Elbert Hubbard erty values have reversed and equity losses in our $28,000. Problem: Most people don’t have $5,000 homes are increasing. Most people have choices: to send in at closing, or, for that matter, ever. Eureka! And I am not talking about vacuumn good, bad and ugly. But utilizing proven strate- Solution: A HELOC and proper budgeting. cleaners. But since we mentioned it, that sucking gies, you can pay off a mortgage much quicker Using the example above with those mortgage sound could be the interest you are paying on without refinancing, with no out-of-pocket dollars, you could, by applying correct strategies your mortgage. money, in most cases, no increase in your mort- and software, own your house free and clear, title By using proven strategies employed by banks gage payment and little or no change in your cur- in hand, in less than 12 years, saving 216 monthly for years (OPM = other people’s money), you can rent lifestyle. This is a good choice, and you don’t payments of $1,199 and $161,255 in interest. cancel thousands of dollars of interest and have a need to visit bad or ugly. Would that be an awesome option? Most of us debt-free home in half the time or less. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, and it buy one house for ourselves and then, with our Financial experts (Suzy Orman, Ty Andros, is not necessarily a freight train. Mortgages are cal- interest payments, we buy a bigger one for the Dave Ramsey and Jim Sinclair) tell us the best way culated on a closed-end interest schedule, a one- bank. Can you really afford that? to handle the financial crisis we are experiencing is way street. Certain home equity lines of credit are Flexible Benefits Agency, Inc. has provided paying off debt ASAP, especially your mortgage. on an open-end interest schedule, a two-way retirement and estate planning services, insurance Is your glass half full or half empty? The street. products and senior services to employees of the United States is in a recession. Housing, automo- Standard fixed rate mortgage: $200,000 @ 6 state of South Carolina for 22 years. The compa- bile and financial sectors are in deep downturns. percent for 30 years • monthly payment = $1,199 ny’s main goal is to build relationships through The Fed is flooding the banking industry with liq- x 12 x 30 years = $431,676, and $231,676 of it is education and to promote worry free retirement uidity to keep them afloat so they can continue interest.