More Millionaire Pension Information for Missouri Teachers, Administrators and Public Employees

We recently relayed information from Taxpayers United of America detailing the millions of dollars of estimated pensions of administrators and teachers in St. Louis County. The group was scheduled to make subsequent stops in Jefferson City, Springfield and Kansas City detailing the wages and estimated pensions from administrators, teachers and public state employees in those districts.

The reports include state employee wage and estimated pension information. The data was gathered from FOIA requests.

Here is the organization's mission from its website:

Taxpayers United of America is now fighting tax increases and reckless spending in states surrounding Illinois, and is planning to assist taxpayers and local taxpayer groups nationwide.

The organization has published its findings on this information:

From the Kansas City press release:

“Heading the list of Jackson County public school Teachers’ Top 100 salaries and estimated pensions is John Covington of Kansas City Sch. Dist. 33, pulling in generous total wages of $250,000. When Covington retires, his pension is estimated to start at $195,000 a year — $16,250 a month. Over a normal lifetime, he will collect an astounding $8,385,000 in estimated total pension payments.”*

“Jim Hinson of Independence Sch. Dist. 30 receives total wages of $208,600. When Hinson retires, his pension is estimated to start at $163,950 a year — $13,662 a month. Over a normal lifetime, he will collect $7,049,850 in estimated total pension payments.”

“In the State of Missouri, unemployment is 8.8%, the average wage is $45,000, and the median housing value is $135,000.”

From the Springfield press release:

“Heading the list of Greene County public school Teachers’ Top 100 salaries and estimated pensions is Norman Ridder of Springfield Sch. Dist. R-XII, pulling in generous total wages of $156,193. When Ridder retires, his pension is estimated to start at $124,645 a year — $10,387 a month. Over a normal lifetime, he will collect an astounding $5,359,724 in estimated total pension payments.”*

“Vern Minor of Republic Sch. Dist. R-III receives total wages of $147,676. When Minor retires, his pension is estimated to start at $118,257 a year — $9,855 a month. Over a normal lifetime, he will collect $5,085,051 in estimated total pension payments.”

From the Jefferson City press release:

“Heading the list of Jefferson City public school Teachers’ Top 25 salaries and estimated pensions is Brian Mitchell of Jefferson City Sch. Dist., pulling in generous total wages of $180,400. When Mitchell retires, his pension is estimated to start at $142,800 a year — $11,900 a month. Over a normal lifetime, he will collect an astounding $6,140,400 in estimated total pension payments.”*

“Julia Sharpe of Jefferson City Sch. Dist. receives total wages of $136,500. When Sharpe retires, her pension is estimated to start at $109,875 a year — $9,156 a month. Over a normal lifetime, she will collect $4,724,625 in estimated total pension payments.”

“Arthur Allen of Jefferson City Sch. Dist. receives total wages of $119,030. When Allen retires, his pension is estimated to start at $96,773 — $8,064 a month. Over a normal lifetime, he will collect $4,161,218 in estimated total pension payments.”

The report also chronicles other highly projected future pensions in Missouri government:

“Of the Top 100 Missouri government pensions, Willis Magruder, formerly of Truman State University, receives an estimated annual pension including Social Security of $185,531 — $15,461 a month.”**

“Dean Hubbard, formerly of Northwest MO State University, receives an estimated annual pension including Social Security of $172,245 — $14,354 a month.”

“Nicholas Bartulica, formerly with the Mental Health Department, receives an estimated annual pension including Social Security of $145,525 — $12,127 a month.”

** Until 2011, State Employees contributed zero toward their pensions. After 2011 they will contribute 4%.

All pdfs from these districts detailing the top 100 Millionaire Pensions can be accessed from each individual district page listed in the links above.

The Top 100 Millionaire Teachers and Administrators in St. Louis County

Kirkwood School District has the highest paid superintendent in the state but is number 2 when it comes to the amount of pensions paid out in the state according to this St. Louis Today article quoting information from Taxpayers United of America:

At least 100 former or current St. Louis County school district leaders will make more than $4.3 million after retirement in taxpayer-supported pensions, and another 100 workers for the State of Missouri will make more than $2.3 million over their lifetimes in pension earnings, according to lists released here today by an anti-pension advocacy group.

The Taxpayers United of America, in the middle of its Midwest tour, stopped in St. Louis this afternoon for a press conference before heading on to Jefferson City, Springfield, and Kansas City this week, then California, Virginia and Kentucky later this year.

Taxpayers United Vice-President Christina Tobin and Director of Outreach Rae Ann McNeilly said the lists expose "the top government salaries and pensions" for public school and state workers.

"St. Louis County public school teachers and Missouri government employees are pulling in huge salaries and will have lavish, gold-plated pensions when they retire," Tobin said in a prepared statement. "Meanwhile, Missouri taxpayers are suffering through the worst economic climate since the Great Depression."

Just how large are some of these pensions?

The Parkway School District topped the educators list, with 15 employees - mostly or all administrators - making the top 100, at an estimated annual cost of $1.7 million, or $73 million over the lifetimes of the workers.

Kirkwood schools came in next, with 13 employees on the list at a cost of $1.5 million per year, or $63 million over their lifetimes.

In total, the top-100 educators averaged about $115,000 each annually.

The study's top overall payout went to Parkway's former superintendent, Robert Malito, who is collecting an estimated $175,448 in retirement, or about $7.5 million over his lifetime.

Wow. Can you believe this? Look at this list of teachers and administrators and be prepared to be amazed at the amount of tax payer dollars that are being spent for pensions that a private industry worker cannot even believe to expect through his/her 401K. Wouldn't most privately employed retirees be eager to retire at $175,000 a year in his/her retirement?

The next time your school district comes to you for a tax increase and tells you it's "all for the children", take along this list and determine how much some of your district employees are being paid out over their lifetimes. No wonder public education costs so much these days.

For a detailed report on how teacher pensions are fast becoming a trillion dollar taxpayer liability, read the Forbes article "The Teacher Pension Nightmare".