ELLIOTT A ‘DIFFERENT’ RB
WEDNESDAYAUGUST 1, 2018
FREE
COWBOYS STAR RUSHER READY FOR A DISTRACTION-FREE 2018 SEASON, A6
STATE OF TEXAS
Teacher pensions may decrease Investment shortages has retired educators looking at Legislature to secure additional funding By Sydney Greene TH E TEXAS T RI BUNE
Texas has a number of retired teachers who are finding out their pensions may be lowered next year. The state's Teacher Retirement System board voted on Friday to lower the expected rate of return on investments, meaning the state is predicting it will earn less money to use for benefits. Retired educators said they are now looking to
the Legislature to make sure more funding is secured for the TRS pension fund in light of Friday's vote. Bertha Villarreal, treasurer with the Laredo Area Retired School Employees Association, said she is concerned for retirees and current teachers. Retirees were promised they’d be given an annuity and there would be a chance for a costof-living adjustment. However, Friday’s vote will most likely mean this will not happen,
Villarreal said. The Texas Legislature and school districts will be asked to increase their contributions, but they cannot be forced to do so. “We’re in limbo,” Villarreal said. “We’re asking them to do the right thing. “We’ll feel betrayed if the ... Legislature does not increase their contribution,” she said. “It’s a wait and see. It could be fine or disastrous.” At a time when the cost of
living is rising, retired teachers are trying to survive within their fixed incomes — which has been difficult, according to several retired teachers who testified at the board meeting. The board's decision to lower the expected rate of return on investments could signal a potential decrease in pension benefits and contribution rates, which are set by the Legislature — and retirees are looking to lawmakers to help offset the new expected rate, said Monty Exter of the Association of Texas Professional Educators. “The burden is now on the Texas Legislature to step up
and provide the necessary funding to ensure actuarial soundness of the pension fund and give educators peace of mind that they will not face cuts in their pensions,” Exter said. The decision to lower the rate was based on estimates from financial experts who predicted how the rates would operate in future economic situations. Exter acknowledged that the board had a "fiduciary duty" to make decision on the fund based on advice from experts. “We have looked at a variety of forecasts,” said Brian GuthPensions continues on A9
LAREDO AND ZAPATA MASONIC LODGES
OFFICERS INSTALLED AT EVENT Plans for the year discussed at joint ceremony S P ECIAL T O T HE T I ME S
Laredo Masonic Lodge #547 and Zapata Lodge #1402 recently held a joint installation of officers. A delicious barbeque meal was enjoyed by all present before the installation. Miguel Inclan, Worship Master for 20172018, opened the meeting and welcomed all. Anthony Cabello, Senior Warden, then presented Eduardo M. Cruz Jr. with the Cornerstone Award from Laredo Chapter #185, RAM. Another award, the Golden Trowel Award, was present by Miguel Inclan to Elias Mendiola Jr. for his contributions to Laredo Lodge. Those installed for Zapata Lodge #1402 were Travis Cabello - worshipMasonic continues on A9
Courtesy photo
Zapata Masonic Lodge #1402 officers, from left, are I.H. “Skip” Smith-Secretary, Elias Mendiola Jr.-Tiler, Agustin Meza Jr.-Senior Warden, Mike Harper-Senior Deacon, Travis Cabello-Worshipful Master, Boyd Carter-Treasurer, Larry Lowe-Junior Warden, Charles Whitfield-Chaplain.
TEXAS HEALTH CARE ASSOCIATION
ZAPATA COUNTY
Nursing staff shortages reported Sheriff’s office By Maria Gardner ZA PATA T I ME S
A nursing home owners trade association proposes an increase in Medicaid reimbursement to address nursing staff’s high turnover rates and shortages. According to a report by the Texas Health Care Association, “dedicated staff are leaving the nursing home industry due to low wages, demanding job responsibilities and an over-demanding regulatory environment.” Zapata County has one nursing home, which employees 14 nurse aides, an estimated 68 percent of all di-
rect care staffing, according to the report. Webb County has five nursing homes which employees 179 nurse aides, an estimated 70 percent of all direct care staffing, according to the Texas Health Care Association. The shortage and turnover in nursing staff in the area is not as stark as other areas in the state, according to a 2017 Long Term Care Nurse Staffing study conducted by Texas Health and Human Services. There is a 4.5 percent shortage rate for nurse aides in the Rio Grande Valley region, states the study, in contrast to 10.4 percent vacancy rate
statewide. Webb, Aransas, Hidalgo, Refugio, Zapata and Cameron counties are included in Rio Grande Valley region in the study. The region has the lowest median turnover rate for nurse aides in Texas with 47.1 percent, while the South Texas region median turnover rate — 81.3 percent — is the highest in the state, according to the study. Statewide the median turnover rate for nurse aids is 65 percent, according to the study. The facility turnover rate, states the study, is determined by dividing the total number of exits reported by the survey
respondents by a headcount of employees reported by the survey respondents. Nursing home owners are not hiring more nurse aides or increasing nursing aides’ pay because they lack adequate funds from the state’s Medicaid reimbursement, Texas Health Care Association President Kevin Warren said. “The state’s Medicaid rate falls almost $10,000 short of the cost of care on an annual basis per Medicaid resident,” states the association’s report. Medicare and VA benefits, according to the the report, cover only a Nursing continues on A10
reports missing woman located ZAPATA TIME S
A Zapata woman who had been reported missing has been found, according to the Zapata County Sheriff ’s Office. The Sheriff ’s Office reported that Rachel Gutierrez was located Gutierrez July 26. “The collaboration between the Zapata County Sheriff ’s Office and the Corpus Christi Police Department
led to locating Rachel Gutierrez who had been missing for several weeks,” the Sheriff ’s Office said. On June 20, the Zapata County Sheriff ’s Office asked the public for assistance in locating Gutierrez. Relatives said they were in desperate need of finding her. “The family is concerned because she has not come home for a few weeks,” Sheriff ’s Office Chief Raymundo Del Bosque Jr. said in late June.