Pension Reform: RI Leads the Way — Much Work Still Ahead
On November 18, 2011, the Rhode Island General Assembly passed the Rhode Island Retirement Security Act of 2011 (RIRSA) enacting comprehensive pension reform for Rhode Island's state employees, teachers and some municipal employees. In the months since, Providence has taken significant steps towards pension reform by reaching an agreement with city unions to make needed changes.
One thing is clear. Rhode Island led the nation in addressing its pension crisis and as a result our state is stronger than it was a year ago. We still have much work to do to ensure that cities and towns achieve similar stability and to repel challenges to RIRSA in the courts or in the legislature.