OMAHA- Omaha Public School's Superintendent Cheryl Logan has decided to stop running a pension system. A proposal that would transfer administration of the OPS' pension fund to the state has been backed by the board as well as Logan. This would not relieve the system's $848 million shortfall that remains a financial obligation of OPS and taxpayers.

Nebraska officials already took over management of investments of the Omaha School Employees Retirement System. Logan believes having the state take over the pension is the next logical step. The opposition to this appeal comes from the organization representing retired teachers in the district as well as the pension's current board of trustees which would ultimately be dissolved. Opponents wonder if the change would actually create any savings. The OPS board voted 7-0 to endorse the proposal, but the OSERS trustees voted 4-3 to oppose it.

Senator Kolterman has been working with OPS to improve this situation. He sought a study to find whether there would be economies of scale to have the retirement system to take over administration of OPS pensions. The study revealed there would be savings of around $250,000 a year to have NPERS take over for OSERS. Logan believes the transition costs would be worth the savings down the road.

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