Transparent California Releases 2014 CalSTRS Pension Data
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tustin, California, April 30, 2014
Contact: press@calpolicycenter.org
Transparent California Releases 2014 CalSTRS Pension Data
TUSTIN — Today, TransparentCalifornia.com released 2014 pension records for 256,305 CalSTRS pensioners, received through a series of public records request.
Transparent California is California’s largest and most comprehensive database of public sector compensation and is a project of two nonpartisan, free market think tanks, the California Policy Center and Nevada Policy Research Institute.
Statewide, 8,888 CalSTRS retirees received pension payouts of $100,000 or more in 2014. The average pension for those who worked 30 years or more was $66,641 for the year. Of those who retired in 2000 and later, the figure was $74,910.
To view the data click here. To explore the data by specific school district click here.
“Widespread six-figure pension payouts for retired educators challenge the popular conception of the poor retired teacher struggling to get by on a fixed pension,” said Mark Bucher, president of the California Policy Center. “The release of this data will give policymakers, journalists and Californians-at-large better context of hot-button issues surrounding teacher contracts and compensation.”
The top five biggest pensions statewide went to retired educators in the Greater Los Angeles area. The three biggest CalSTRS pension recipients outside of Greater Los Angeles in 2014 were:
• Marilyn Miller, Hillsborough City Elementary, who received $280,035
• Johanna Vandermolen, Campbell Union Elementary, who received $278,003
• Phil Quon, Cupertino Union, who received $274,898
Based on the ten biggest school districts in each region, the average pensions of those who worked 30 years or more in other California regions outside of the Los Angeles area were:
- Bay Area: $65,414
- Sacramento & the Central Valley: $63,682
- Central Coast: $60,532
- Greater San Diego: $65,605
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#1
Over 1,500 retired educators of Greater Los Angeles receive eye-popping pension payouts of $100,000 or more
The data reveals that at just the 10 biggest school districts in the Greater Los Angeles area 1,541 CalSTRS pensioners took home pension payouts of $100,000 or more in 2014. The average pension for those who worked 30 years or more at these districts was $69,002 for the year. Of those who retired in 2000 and later, the figure was $75,554. (These payouts do not include the value of generous health benefits.)
The three biggest CalSTRS pension recipients in the Greater Los Angeles area in 2014 were:
• William Habermehl, Orange County Office of Education, who received $347,856
• Richard Bray, Tustin Unified School District, who received $307,135
• Edward Hernandez Jr., Rancho Santiago Community College District, who received $304,652
Ten biggest school districts by total payroll in Greater Los Angeles
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#2
Over 400 retired educators of the Bay Area receive eye-popping pension payouts of $100,000 or more
The data reveals that at just the 10 biggest school districts in the Bay Area 403 CalSTRS pensioners took home pension payouts of $100,000 or more in 2014. The average pension for those who worked 30 years or more at these districts was $65,413 for the year. Of those who retired in 2000 and later, the figure was $74,220. (These payouts do not include the value of generous health benefits.)
The three biggest CalSTRS pension recipients in the Bay Area in 2014 were:
• James Smith, Evergreen Elementary, who received $287,434
• Marilyn Miller, Hillsborough City Elementary, who received $280,035
• Johanna Vandermolen, Campbell Union Elementary, who received $278,003
Ten biggest school districts by total payroll in the Bay Area
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#3
Over 280 retired educators of Greater San Diego receive eye-popping pension payouts of $100,000 or more
The data reveals that at just the 10 biggest school districts in the Greater San Diego area 286 CalSTRS pensioners took home pension payouts of $100,000 or more in 2014. The average pension for those who worked 30 years or more at these districts was $65,605 for the year. Of those who retired in 2000 and later, the figure was $70,614. (These payouts do not include the value of generous health benefits.)
The three biggest CalSTRS pension recipients in the Greater San Diego area in 2014 were:
• Rudy Castruita, San Diego County Office of Education, who received $274,265
• Kenneth Noonan, Oceanside Unified, who received $256,547
• Terry Davis, San Diego Community College District, who received $239,735
Ten biggest school districts by total payroll in Greater San Diego
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#4
Over 300 retired educators of Sacramento & the Central Valley receive eye-popping pension payouts of $100,000 or more
The data reveals that at just the 10 biggest school districts in Sacramento & the Central Valley 308 CalSTRS pensioners took home pension payouts of $100,000 or more in 2014. The average pension for those who worked 30 years or more at these districts was $63,682 for the year. Of those who retired in 2000 and later, the figure was $70,084. (These payouts do not include the value of generous health benefits.)
The three biggest CalSTRS pension recipients in Sacramento & the Central Valley in 2014 were:
• Jack McLaughlin, Stockton Unified School District, who received $266,899
• James Enochs, Modesto City Elementary, who received $261,510
• Larry Reider, Kern County Office of Education, who received $253,950
Ten biggest school districts by total payroll in Sacramento & the Central Valley
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#5
Over 50 retired educators of the Central Coast receive eye-popping pension payouts of $100,000 or more
The data reveals that at just the 10 biggest school districts of the Central Coast 55 CalSTRS pensioners took home pension payouts of $100,000 or more in 2014. The average pension for those who worked 30 years or more at these districts was $60,531 for the year. Of those who retired in 2000 and later, the figure was $66,293. (These payouts do not include the value of generous health benefits.)
The three biggest CalSTRS pension recipients in the Sacramento & the Central Valley in 2014 were:
• Edward Valeau, Hartnell Community College District, who received $249,312
• Douglas Garrison, Monterey Peninsula Community College District, who received $237,662
• Roger Anton, Salinas Union High, who received $209,407
Ten biggest school districts by total payroll of the Central Coast
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To schedule an interview with California Policy Center president Mark Bucher, please contact Jordan Bruneau at (916) 258-2396 or jordan@calpolicycenter.org
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