More than 60 percent of Coloradans surveyed would support a ballot measure that moves Colorado state government employees’ retirement age in line with that of Social Security, a survey showed.
The January survey, conducted by Magellan Strategies on behalf of the Independence Institute, showed that nearly two-thirds of those polled—63 percent—supported a ballot measure that would increase the state employee retirement age from 58 to 65 years old.
Just 26 percent of respondents opposed such a ballot measure, while 10 percent were not sure or had no opinion.
Under current rules of retirement, Colorado’s Public Employees’ Retirement Association allows state and local government employees to retire with full benefits at 58.
When asked if they thought the disparity between PERA employees and non-governmental employee retirement ages was fair, 51 percent said no.
Thirty-nine percent of those surveyed said the difference was fair.
Half of the poll’s 751 respondents were not aware that such an age discrepancy existed, knotted up at 46 percent with those who said they knew about PERA’s retirement regulations.
Meanwhile, 77 percent knew the Social Security retirement age, with just 17 percent unaware.
The autodial poll, conducted January 27-28, 2014 was divided between Republicans at 38 percent, Democrats at 33 percent, and those identifying as unaffiliated or Independent at 29 percent.
The poll had a margin of error of +/- 3.58 percent.
2014_05_14 Magellan PERA Results
