" Today a coworker said social security will deduct any PERS retirement $ I receive from the total amount of social security retirement $ I am due, and that this is true for ALL governments (Fed., state, or local) who do not participate in social security"

I can only say that I know that is true for federal employees. I don't know about other non- SS employees.

The reason is simple, the tax payers are paying for the federal employees retirement plan, and they are paying for social security. Your average tax payer can't collect both, why should you? Double dipping just aint fair.

Joe Varga