CUMBERLAND — Retired school personnel shouldn’t lose sleep over who’s going to pay their pensions in the coming years, though the issue will likely stir debate when Maryland legislators begin the 2010 session next week.

“You don’t need to sit there and worry about losing your pension,” said Sen. George Edwards, who spoke at Thursday’s meeting of the Allegany County Retired School Personnel.

“’Cause the economy would have to tank a lot worse than it is right now for that to happen,” he said.

With the state facing an estimated $2 billion budget shortfall, some lawmakers have suggested that counties should pay part of the cost of teacher pensions.

Maryland is one of the few states that shoulders the full teacher pension cost, an expense that has gone up 22 percent, or about $135 million, in the fiscal 2010 budget. The total cost is about $770 million.

Lawmakers may have a rough time this winter working out who pays what, Edwards said. But big picture, the pension fund is in “good shape.”

“You’re going to get your check whether the county pays it, the state pays it, or it’s a combination of both,” Edwards said.

Delegates Kevin Kelly, Wendell Beitzel and LeRoy Myers joined Edwards at Thursday’s luncheon, which included an hour-long Q&A; session that covered a variety of issues, including global warming and wind power. About 40 retired school personnel attended.

“I think it’s more of a touchy, fuzzy, feel-good thing than a practical energy solution,” Beitzel said of wind power. All four delegates said they believe global warming isn’t a credible scientific phenomena.

“I’m suspicious of it, to be honest,” Kelly said. “... All these energy initiatives are costing the consumers money. You, the retired, you’re constantly having less and less discretionary income left.”

Following Thursday’s retired school personnel meeting, the local delegation headed immediately to a public meeting, in part concerning the Allegany County Sheriff’s Office and Bureau of Police. That meeting was expected to be contentious.

“Gentlemen,” moderator Bill Davis said to delegates before introducing them to a mild and agreeable retired school personnel audience, “this is the calm before the storm.”

Contact Kristin Harty Barkley at kharty@times-news.com.