"No matter, we are way past time in doing something to make PERS financially responsible and, at the same time, reestablishing well-funded schools and local services."

Only a person completely unfamiliar with all the reductions that have already been done to the benefits of the current workforce would make that statement. It falsely assumes no reductions have ever been made. In fact, the PERS benefits for today's newly hired workers are far different and lower (including eligible retirement age, which increased) than the promises and contract made to our retirees and oldest workers. 

Today's young govt workers have already paid the price for yesterday's workers. Reducing benefits further will mean increasing salaries, unless taxpayers want low-skilled workers applying for jobs. As it stands, with salary and benefits, it's about a wash between private sector and related govt job.