May 30, 2006 Outlook & Review (71k )

OSBA plays a critical role in protecting the reforms that have kept PERS afloat and saved public employers billions of dollars.

Our Legal Assistance Trust members understand the importance of this effort. Its trustees stepped up again in May, voting to provide $275,000 to help pay legal fees in pending and new cases stemming from 2003 legislative reforms to the retirement system as those cases move through Oregon and federal courts.

To date, OSBA has contributed $340,000 toward public employers’ defense costs in PERS cases, most of which has come from the Legal Assistance Trust. The PERS reforms of 2003 have saved more than $4.6 billion for school districts to date and more than $11.4 billion for public employers overall, so it’s clearly an important effort for the trust.

OSBA has joined an alliance of local governments (including the League of Oregon Cities, Association of Oregon Counties and Special Districts of Oregon) with a stake in the outcome of the PERS lawsuits. Several lawsuits stem from the original legislative reforms in 2003, and some have been filed since then and are at various stages of appeal.

OSBA wisely created the trust 15 years ago to help pay legal expenses in education-related lawsuits - usually at the appellate level - with statewide impact. And there have been about 20, in districts ranging from Joseph to Portland. Boards who have joined the trust can request assistance with legal-defense costs.

The PERS cases, with their immense potential effects on school districts, have been allocated high levels of financial support by the trustees.

OSBA members voluntarily participate in the trust at annual dues rates determined by their average daily membership. It’s proven an effective way to provide much needed support for public schools.

Boards, community colleges and ESDs interested in joining the Legal Assistance Trust may call OSBA at 503-588-2800 or 800-578-6722. Ask for Dori Brattain .

PERS Information Center