By Bernadette Hampton, special to Charleston Currents | The South Carolina Education Association encourages residents of Charleston County, especially all educators in the Charleston area, to urge Gov. Henry McMaster to sign the responsible, bipartisan pension funding bill. This bill allows South Carolina to keep its obligations to public employees and remain competitive with other states. And, pensions remain the best bang for the buck for our taxpayers.

Public pensions cover over 549,000 teachers, firefighters and other South Carolina workers. In fact, 1 out 9 South Carolina residents are covered by our pensions systems. With an average benefit of just $21,000 a year, pensions provide a modest but dignified retirement for our public employees. Under this bill, teachers will contribute a greater percentage of their pay, now 9 percent of pay, toward their pension, sharing the sacrifice of increase with the state.