Earlier this year, we asked readers of PERA on the Issues to weigh in on the kind of content they would like to see.
Now the results are in!
Readers told us that they would like to see more coverage of legislation and politics (61 percent of respondents said this), health care (57 percent), and retirement security (57 percent).
When asked how they might describe PERA on the Issues, 61 percent of respondents said an “online resource about Colorado PERA” while 57 percent would tell a friend it provides “timely news on topics related to retirement and public employee benefits.” More readers said they heard about PERA on the Issues from other PERA publications than from any other source.
Survey respondents came from all five PERA divisions. While most respondents listed a Colorado ZIP code as their home address, a small minority lives in other states or even other countries, showing the wide reach of PERA on the Issues.
Finally, we asked readers how we could improve PERA on the Issues. Respondents offered a range of suggestions, from “it’s fine just like it is” to “help us to understand more about how these issues affect us” and “make issues at the Legislature easier to understand.”
We’ve read through each of the comments and we’re already finding ways to give readers more of what they want while making sure to keep elements we know are valuable.
To start, readers can now find a “Legislation” tab on the home page of PERA on the Issues. From there, information is available about the status of proposed bills and resources for contacting elected officials will be included when needed.
We are working to add more content about health care as it impacts and relates to PERA, too.
The reader survey provided valuable insight about what our readers need and want. But we’re always eager to get feedback. Comment on our articles, share them with friends, or send us your ideas directly.
PERA on the Issues is a resource for you, and we love to hear what you think.
Dear Pera – I have 2 big concerns about Pera and my retirement income -one is the injustice of the windfall grab from my already pitiful Social Security, (not much left after Medicare and the windfall grab) and second, the maintenance of at least the present level of my Pera pension. ‘I’m out of tune with those who insist on maintaining it and adhering to mandated cola formula increases. I think we are part of the greater community and when it suffers we need to share that. It’s not fair for Pera retirees to be in a class by themselves when it comes to bearing the burden of being alive!
Dear Jeanne C. Fuchs,
We may be “part of a greater community and when it comes to bearing the burden of being alive!” However you do live in a free country where you can and have made choices–where it is fair to chose PERA over other retirement plans and schemes that may or may not benefit it’s subscribers. I for one am not going to bear your burden pay for your mistakes or poor choices you made in your past. I carefully made my choice over 40 years ago for a strong well planned and managed PERA at the state not federal level.
John E. Conger retiree