Retired Public Employees of Idaho
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Retired Public Employees of Idaho
Home | What We Do | Why We’re Here | Who We Are | Join | News | Volunteer | Contact
The Retired Public Employees of Idaho (RPEI) is a new organization dedicated to safeguarding and strengthening the PERSI retirement system for both current and future retirees.
Our primary objective is to restore the actuarially sound inflation-protecting Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs) that PERSI had previously promoted and utilized to ensure financial stability for public retirees during inflationary periods.
Since March 2021, these inflationary adjustments to our COLAs have been significantly lower than the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). Inflation continuously erodes our purchasing power. Restoring this crucial protection necessitates more than just advocacy; it requires meaningful dialogue, credible information, and strategic engagement with the PERSI Board and Idaho’s elected leaders.
Mission
The mission of the Retired Public Employees of Idaho (RPEI) is to reinstate the inflation adjusted COLA, and safeguard and preserve the pensions and related benefits of current and future PERSI retirees and their beneficiaries through:
– Advocacy and Legislative Action: Represent current and future PERSI retirees before the PERSI Board and Idaho Legislature.
– Communication and Education: Provide updates and resources to help current and future PERSI retirees stay informed and engaged.
– Research and Oversight: Monitor trends, legislation, and policy proposals that impact current and future PERSI retirees.
Our Goals Are To:
• Build constructive relationships with the PERSI Board, the Idaho State Legislature, and Statewide Elected Officers.
• Support legislative action for the appointment of a retiree member on the PERSI Board to ensure that retiree interests are represented.
• Encourage transparency and public input, including regular town halls between PERSI, public employees, and retirees.
• Engage Idaho PERSI employers to help them understand that strong retirement benefits are key to attracting and retaining quality employees in public service.
• Educate lawmakers and the public about how PERSI works. It is a successful program that is funded directly by employee and employer contributions and, most importantly, its investments.
• Notify members and the public to speak out against legislation or proposals that would weaken or dismantle the PERSI system.
• Build a strong membership base with sustainable funding so the RPEI becomes a unified voice — one that is heard respectfully and cannot be ignored when retiree benefits are at stake.
• Focus on and bring attention to the PERSI fund’s Return on Investment (ROI). The ROI of the fund is critical, as it pays for nearly two-thirds of retirement benefits.
