Tri-City Sun

State Representative Timmy Beson is advocating for Michigan to uphold its commitments to educators regarding their retirement benefits. On Teacher Appreciation Day, Beson expressed concerns about a budget proposal from the governor that reallocates $670 million from the state's teacher pension system.

Beson, a member of both the House Appropriations Committee and an Appropriations Subcommittee on School Aid and Education, highlighted that the Michigan Public School Employees’ Retirement System (MPSERS) still faces nearly $25 billion in liability, with an expected payoff by 2038, according to the House Fiscal Agency.

The Michigan House is scheduled to vote on this budget plan, known as House Bill 5503, on Wednesday. Beson voiced strong opposition: “People across Bay County and the state are tired of being used to foot the bill for out-of-control state government spending,” he stated. He criticized the governor for previously using a $9 billion surplus and increasing state income taxes.

Beson emphasized that addressing these liabilities sooner could release funds for Michigan's educational system. “The governor said that past efforts from her administration to fund our debts were like paying off a mortgage early,” Beson remarked. However, he accused her of shifting resources towards unsustainable plans instead.

He concluded by stressing elected officials' duty to manage taxpayer money wisely: “Paying down our debts to free up future resources is a big part of that, but this plan simply kicks the can down the road and mortgages the future.”