State legislators' efforts to reform Ohio's five public employee retirement systems are getting heat from pension fund officials and some retirees. Lawmakers should resist the pressure and pass a real reform that will better protect retirees' benefits by making these systems more transparent and accountable.

The funds have been beset by controversy this year. In August, the State Teachers Retirement System's executive director took a $550,000 buyout and resigned following criticism on ethical and spending issues, including the payment of $14 million in bonuses to staffers, the board's use of funds to purchase artwork, and travel expenses considered to be extravagant. The Ohio Fraternal Order of Police called for three directors of the Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund to resign for "lavish personal travel."

Those revelations, plus the fact that nearly all the funds failed to meet investment targets over the past few years, have led lawmakers in both parties to call for tougher controls.

"That kind of culture of arrogance has got to stop," said Rep. Michelle Schneider, R-Madeira, sponsor of the House reform bill (H.B. 227). "This bill will stop it." Among other things, it would:

• Authorize independent performance audits of the systems.

• Require all those with investment authority to file public financial disclosure statements.

• Require the systems to adopt ethics and travel policies.

• Require periodic training for board members.

• Let the governor appoint investment experts to the boards.

• Allow appeals courts to remove board members for misconduct.

These are common-sense measures that public retirees - and Ohio taxpayers who'll have to foot the bill if the funds go under - ought to welcome. The Senate is unlikely to go along with some provisions - like putting State Treasurer Joe Deters on the boards with authority to fire directors. But lawmakers should pass a bill with the teeth to clean house and encourage a new culture of responsibility and accountability in the systems.

Ohio pension systems

The five public employee retirement systems and the assets of each:

• Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) - $51.8 billion

• State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) - $47.3 billion

• Police and Fire Pension Fund - $7.7 billion

• School Employees Retirement System (SERS) - $7.2 billion

• Highway Patrol Retirement System (HPRS) - $553 million