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Texas Legislature 2023

State retirees struggle through inflation while budget plans leave them out

Budget proposals in the Texas Legislature include billions in raises for current and retired teachers, as well as current state employees. So far, retired state employees are not mentioned in the budget plans. The state’s former public servants haven’t had a pension raise in 20 years.

Valentina Belmares, 73, left, and Gloria García, 68, pose for a photo at Belmares’ home in Alamo, Texas on Monday, April 3, 2023. García says, “If you don’t get a pension raise in 20 years like how social security gives raises, how are the middle class people supposed to make it with inflation?”

State Rep. Alma A. Allen, D-Houston, talks with other legislators on the opening day of the special session at the Texas Capitol on July 8, 2021.
Gloria García, 68, poses for a photo at her friends’ home in Alamo, Texas on Monday, April 3, 2023. “If you don’t get a pension raise in 20 years like how social security gives raises, how are the middle class people supposed to make it with inflation?”
Verónica G. Cárdenas for The Texas Tribune

Stretched to the limit 

Valentina Belmares, 73, poses for a photo at her home in Alamo, Texas on Monday, April 3, 2023. Belmares mentions that she struggles to make ends meet and sometimes has to sell food plates to supplement her expenses. “I am planning to go to the state capital to meet with legislators and representatives for a pension increase since there hasn’t been one in 20 years.”
Verónica G. Cárdenas for The Texas Tribune
Valentina Belmares, 73, shows the jalapeños that she makes to sell sometimes in Alamo, Texas on Monday, April 3, 2023. Belmares mentions that she struggles to make ends meet and sometimes has to sell food plates to supplement her expenses. “I am planning to go to the state capital to meet with legislators and representatives for a pension increase since there hasn’t been one in 20 years.”
Valentina Belmares, 73, left, and Gloria García, 68, pose for a photo at Belmares’ home in Alamo, Texas on Monday, April 3, 2023. García says, “If you don’t get a pension raise in 20 years like how social security gives raises, how are the middle class people supposed to make it with inflation?”

State employees easy to overlook  


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Economy State government Alma A. Allen Texas House of Representatives Texas Legislature