Idaho’s public pension system helps fund 47 private pensioners

The Public Employee Retirement System of Idaho (PERSI) provides pensions for 47 employees of five private lobbying groups.

The Idaho Education Association (IEA), the state’s largest teacher union, is the largest private participant in the Idaho public pension system, according to documents obtained by IdahoReporter.com. The IEA has 25 workers taking part in the pension system.

The Idaho Association of Counties comes in second with nine workers, followed by the Idaho School Board Association with seven employees.The Association of Idaho Cities comes in fourth place with five workers.Also on the list is the Idaho Public Employees Association with one participant.

Idaho is one of only 20 states that allows private workers to participate in a public retirement program, which are primarily funded through tax dollars.

PERSI’s spokesman, Kelly Cross, couldn’t tell IdahoReporter.com why the state allowed private groups into the system in the first place. He did note, though, that the arrangement has been in place for about 40 years. More here. IdahoReporter

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