Retirement Summary of  Benefits
Columbia County Board of Education



TEACHER RETIREMENT (Mandatory)

All teachers and certain auxiliary employees are required by Georgia Law to be members of the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia You may visit the Teachers Retirement website (TRS) at www.trsga.com.  Teachers will have 5% deducted from their monthly gross salaries for the employee's contribution to the system.  The Board of Education contributes 9.28% of the monthly gross salary for each employee. You
will automatically be enrolled in the Teacher Retirement System once you receive your first pay check. 
The following employee is eligible for this benefit:

1. A new teacher
2. A teacher who has previous service but has withdrawn contributions, or has been out of service in
  Georgia over two years.
3. Security Officers
4. Secretarial/Clerical
5. Paraprofessionals
6. Supervisors
7. Public School Nurse


PUBLIC SCHOOL
RETIREMENT (Mandatory) 

Auxiliary employees not eligible for membership in the Teachers Retirement System will be members of the Public School Employees Retirement System.  Members will have $4.00 per month (nine months) deducted from their monthly gross salaries for the employee's contribution to the system.  The following auxiliary employees must complete a membership application at the time of employment. 

1. School Bus Driver
2. Food Service Employees
3. Maintenance or Custodial Employees
4. Shop Personnel

For more information, please contact Public School Employees Retirement System at 1-900-805-6409 or www.ersga.org.


SUPPLEMENTAL RETIREMENT PLAN (OPTIONAL)

The Board of Education provides a supplemental retirement plan for employees who currently participate in the Public School Employees Retirement System.  The Board will match up to 3% of the employees monthly gross.  However, an employee may contribute more than 3% but not more than what is allowed by the IRS.  Eric Swierski is the agent and can be contacted at (803)279-7172.  An employee is eligible to participate after one year of employment.  It is the employees responsibility to contact the representative to initiate the paperwork after one year of employment.