Union City Pensions: What Retirees Are Receiving

Nearly 500 retired school and city employees in Union City are collecting pensions, dozens of them receiving more than $100,000 a year.

The retirement compensation is part of a list posted by the San Jose Mercury News and other newspapers.

The CalPERS list was unveiled as the state Legislature last week approved a pension reform bill that is now on Gov. Jerry Brown's desk.

Among other reforms, the legislation raises the retirement age for most new employees from 55 to 67 to receive full benefits. It also eliminates so-called "double dipping" and caps the pensions of highly paid retired workers.

In the New Haven Unified School District, there are 331 retirees listed who are receiving CalPERS pensions.

At the top is retired former superintendent Susan Speakman, who was earning about $16,100 a month when she retired after working 40 years for the state. Speakman collects about $12,700 a month in pension, or more than $152,000 a year.

Next is David Pava, also a former superintendent and deputy superintendent who retired after 34 years. He was earning $18,400 a month at the end of his career. He now collects nearly $13,000 a month in pension.

There is one other retiree — former teacher and administrator Jim O’Laughlin — listed who also collects more than $10,000 a month.

At the bottom of the list, there are 33 retirees listed who receive less than $1,000 a month.

Some employees are collecting CalPERS pension from more than one agency. Teachers also don't receive Social Security benefits.

The City of Union City has 159 retirees on the list.

The retiree collecting the most each year is former police chief Randal Ulibarri. He was paid about $19,140 a month when he retired after working 31 years for the government. He now collects slightly more than that in pension, receiving $19,600 a month, or about $235,200 a year.

Right behind is former Economic and Community Development director Mark Leonard, who receives about $18,500 a month. Leonard was being paid $17,400 a month when he retired after 36 years in local government.

There are also 11 other retirees listed who are collecting at least $10,000 a month, or $120,000 a year.

On the flip side, there are 32 retirees listed who receive less than $1,000 a month.

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