I have questions regarding the debate over the Maine State Retirement System.

Didn’t the state of Maine dip into the retirement funds a while ago? Has it repaid that money to the members of the Maine State Retirement System?

If that is true, didn’t that allow Mainers to pay less in taxes than they would have had the money not come out of the retirement fund?

Weren’t some unions in the United States sued for taking money out of retirement funds? If so, why can a state do it but not a union?

I worked all of my 41 years since adolescence (except 12½ years) under the Social Security system. Why do I have to lose all that money I put in because I am teaching in public schools and contributing to the Maine State Retirement System? That issue applies to many other teachers.

If teachers have to retire later, doesn’t that mean that they’ll be working longer and costing school districts more money, since they’re toward the top of the pay scale due to longevity? Wouldn’t hiring younger teachers cost the districts less?(I want to work for quite a while longer, but not everyone does or is able to do so.)

Jerryanne LaPerriere, Auburn