Letter to the Editor
When you vote in November, there will be several proposed amendments to the State Constitution. One of those will be about the SC Retirement System and the way it invests the money that government employees and the government put into the system.
The proposed change will allow the Retirement System to invest in high-quality companies whose offices are in other countries. A YES vote on Amendment #3 will mean that the Retirement System can earn more from its investments – and that will help the Retirement System better meet the needs of it’s members SC’s average annual return on investments is only about 5.4%. Other states with fewer restrictions are seeing returns of 12-17%.
We all recognize the following foreign companies that have businesses in the US: Michelin, Firestone, Toyota, Daimler-Chrysler, Purina Pet Food, Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, Dunkin-Donuts, and Penn-America’s #1 Selling Tennis Ball. Another, FN Manufacturing in Columbia, manufactures weapons for the military and law enforcement but is a Belgian company. And there are many others.
The SC Retirement System cannot invest in any of these because their home offices are in other countries – and the State Constitution currently prohibits such investments. The proposed Amendment #3 would allow investments in these and other companies.
A YES vote on Amendment #3 would release restrictions that would allow more prudent investing in all stocks and bonds as a means of diversification and seeking higher returns. A group of six qualified, competent, experienced professionals on the SC Retirement Investment Commission oversee and investigate all investments. We urge everyone to vote YES on Amendment 3 on the November ballot.
Charley C. McDonald, Ret., South Carolina Highway Patrol
Chairman of the South Carolina Retirement I Pre-Retirement Advisory Board
Phone 803-252-7479
Other Retirement Advisory Board Members with the agencies they represent are:
Mr. Gary Cannon, Municipal Employees
Mr. Robert S. Croom, County Employees
Dr. Oscar P. Butler Jr., Higher Education Teachers
Miss Shanda Johnson, Public School Teachers
Mrs. Elizabeth (Bit) Howell, Public SChool Teachers
Ms Sandy Agee, State Employees
Mr. Dave Leopard, State Employees
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