Council approves PERS actuarial audit RFP, adopts standardized forms and rebuts op‑ed criticisms of STRS Ohio

The Retirement Study Council approved a PERS actuarial-audit request for proposals and adopted a set of standardized reporting forms for 2026 during its Oct. 9 meeting. Members also used the old/new business portion of the agenda to describe a site visit to STRS Ohio and to contest an op‑ed critical of the teacher-retirement system.

Senator Blackshear reported that the PERS actuarial audit subcommittee voted to recommend the RFP. He moved that the council approve the RFP and direct staff to advertise; the chair seconded and the motion carried by roll call.

Mister Bernard presented a roughly 40-page packet of standardized forms for all five retirement systems to submit in calendar year 2026, highlighting an added implementation-history column and a requested ESG compliance statement. Doctor Pottingill moved to adopt the standardized forms and Miss Miller seconded; the council approved the motion by roll call.

In old business, the chair and Representative Brennan described a joint visit to STRS Ohio to assess assertions contained in an op‑ed by Kenneth Blackwell. Representative Brennan read verified performance metrics (including recent returns and peer rankings) and said the public assertions of extravagance were ‘‘uninformed embellishments.’’ He urged fact-based, bipartisan discussion of retirement security and said: "Teachers paid into the system. Their pensions aren't bailouts. They're earned." The chair described the STRS facility as a standard downtown office and encouraged more tours to counter misperceptions.

The council set its next meeting for Nov. 13 and adjourned.