Benicia Pensions: What BUSD Retirees Are Receiving

Nearly 160 school employees retired from the Benicia Unified School district are collecting pensions, and unlike retirees in some districts in the state, none are receiving more than $100,000 a year.

The retirement compensation is part of a list posted by the San Jose Mercury News and other newspapers.

The CalPERS list was unveiled as the state Legislature last week approved a pension reform bill that is now on Gov. Jerry Brown's desk.

Among other reforms, the legislation raises the retirement age for most new employees from 55 to 67 to receive full benefits. It also eliminates so-called "double dipping" and caps the pensions of highly paid retired workers.

In the Benicia Unified School District, there are 158 retirees listed who are receiving CalPERS pensions.

At the top is retiree Susan Sullivan who was earning $8,825.35 a month when she retired after working just more than 38 years in the district. Sullivan collects about $8,300 a month in pension, or more than $99,000 a year.

Next is Joanne Haukland who was earning $11,814.20 a month when she retired after working more than 33 years in education. Haukland collects about $8,185 a month in pension, or more than $98,000 a year.

There is one retiree who collects more than $7,000 a month and four retirees listed who collect more than $6,000 a month.

At the bottom of the list, there are two retirees listed who receive less than $500 a month.

Some employees are collecting CalPERS pensions from more than one agency. Teachers also don't receive Social Security benefits, even if they paid into the social security system before becoming teachers.

Tomorrow Patch will look at pensions for city employees.

Do you think it is fair that teachers who paid into social security before becoming educators can't collect their social security benefit?  Tell us in comments.

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If there’s something in this article you think should be corrected, or if something else is amiss, call editor JB Davis at 707-628-0051 or email him at benicia@patch.com.