Raggio wants no retirement benefits for public workers before age 62

CARSON CITY — State Senate Minority Leader Bill Raggio reiterated today that Republican support for tax increases is contingent on more meaningful reforms to the Public Employees Retirement System, including a requirement that no public employee hired after Jan. 1, 2010, can receive retirement benefits before age 62.

Raggio, R-Reno, said during a Senate Finance Committee hearing that even under other changes proposed in Senate Bill 427, regular employees, police and firefighters still could retire with full benefits at any age after working 30 years. He said that doesn't go far enough.

"Sixty-two is the minimum retirement age for everybody we represent except those in the public sector," Raggio said. "And at 62, they (those receiving Social Security) receive reduced benefits. We should not lose sight of what we are trying to do. This (62) is a reasonable concept. We are only talking about new hires. They will come into the system fully aware of the changes."

Raggio said he wants to resume negotiations with Democrats as soon as possible about making the additional reforms to PERS, but their approval of making the minimum retirement age 62 was imperative.

"This has been a condition for us to proceed on from day one for our members to support an increase in taxes to fund the budget," Raggio said.

Contact Capital Bureau Chief Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901.