Georgia lawmakers aim to keep a close eye on the state's $78 billion pension system for teachers that educators say is vital for recruitment and retention and that some legislators call unsustainable.

House members on Monday moved forward two bills aimed at making the system more financially stable and paying off the liability it faces for future pensions more quickly. The system's executive director, Buster Evans said that could cost hundreds of millions of dollars a year.

How big is the system?

  • It collected $2 billion last year in taxpayer contributions from the state and local school districts, and paid out $4.7 billion to retired educators.
  • The average pension payment last year was just under $37,000.
  • 127,223 retirees received benefits in 2018
  • More than 200,000 current teachers, school and university system employees pay into the Teachers Retirement System.

» Related: Shoring up teacher pension system could cost Georgia big money

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Christopher Katz, a 22-year-old recruit officer with the United States Capitol Police, died in an off-duty car crash in Georgia.

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Aerial photo shows part of the Dawson Forest Wildlife Management Area, Thursday, January 31, 2025, in Dawsonville. Atlanta's 10,000-acre tract of forest is one part of the 25,500 acre WMA managed by the state as public recreation land. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

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