First of all, That is Calpers retirement. Teachers use Calstrs which has completely different retirement formulas. We are not state employees. Calpers services police, firefighters, and others. I only wish I could retire at 50 — we get nothing until 65 and then we have restrictive % formulas and many required fees and monthly costs.
As far as being paid 35% more than the national average, all I know is that I taught in Mission Viejo for a while and could barely afford rent, much less save to buy a house. I can make a starting salary in TX of $35,000 and comfortably afford a low-median priced home at $140,000. To increase that salary by 35% I should be paid $47,250, which is spot on for an average southern CA starting teacher salary. Can I afford a low-median home in southern CA on that salary? Plus we have the 3rd highest state tax burden http://healthcare-economist.com/2009/02/12/cost-of-living-i-state-taxes/ Could I support my family with my income if my husband was laid off?
Again, I am sad that I feel the need to defend a profession filled with hard-working, low to medium paid, well educated folks who instead of being out to make as much money as they can are trying to do something good with their lives.
* There are roughly 19,000 illegal immigrants in state prisons, representing 11% of all inmates. That’s costing $970 million during the current fiscal year. The feds kick in a measly $111 million, leaving the state with an $859 million tab.
* The state is spending $775 million on Medi-Cal healthcare for illegal immigrants, according to the legislative analyst. Of that, $642 million goes into direct benefits. Practically all the rest is paid to counties to administer the program. The feds generally match the state dollar-for-dollar on mandatory programs.
* So-called emergency services are the biggest state cost: $536 million. Prenatal care is $59 million. Not counted in the overall total is the cost of baby delivery — $108 million — because the newborns aren’t illegal immigrants.
PS. Thanks TG for the props, I always knew you were my favorite, add me to your fan club (if there’s room!)
