Two initiatives aimed at lowering employers’ Public Employees Retirement System costs have cleared the next hurdle to appearing on the November 2020 ballot.
The Oregon secretary of state’s office announced Friday that two PERS initiatives had the requisite 1,000 signatures to receive ballot titles.
With a ballot title in hand, the initiatives’ sponsors can create sheets to start gathering the necessary 112,020 signatures to appear on the ballot. They have until July 2, 2020, to submit the signatures.
Former Democratic Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski and former Republican legislator Chris Telfer are the chief petitioners, with the Oregon Business Council providing support. The proposed initiatives would create a 401(k)-style plan for new employees and offer a choice for current employees. They would prohibit the employer pickup of the 6% employee contribution.
