The recently announced "rescue" proposal for the 438,000-member Public Employees' Retirement Association carries a big price tag for school districts and colleges, and could affect the retirement incomes and retirement plans for thousands of past and current school and college employees. The plan also could leave some school districts with little flexibility for teacher raises.

Even though various interest groups in the discussion say they agree there has to be some shared sacrifice to bolster the financially battered pension system, questions and qualms already are surfacing over the plan approved by the PERA board on Oct. 16.

PERA was under a legislative deadline to present a reform plan by Nov. 1. The whole issue will be in squarely the lap of lawmakers in 2010, because only the legislature can change PERA benefits or contributions.

To continue reading Todd Engdahl's story on Education News Colorado's Web site, click here.