The PERS issue faces every public employer in Oregon as retirement costs take a huge portion of budgets.  The system was founded and funded with built-in "unfunded mandates".  We're now seeing the results and they're not very pretty.  Full disclosure: I receive a small PERS retirement and I'm happy to get it.  Additionally, the system was created by the State and contribution agreements were willingly contracted by public employers.  There have been adjustments made in a "tiered" fashion so, hopefully, over time it will be less of an issue.


Meanwhile, we're seeing devastating impacts on all public institutions, including the UO.  Simply put, such institutions must either cut the cost of services or find additional revenue, have fewer workers or pay them less,  or charge more for services or find additional alternative revenue. For the UO that means increased taxpayer funding, increased donor funding or increased student funding.  To put it in sophisticated terms "It's a hellava mess"