re: Can anybody explain the State's retirement...

Don't forget the Drop program. You can work for 3 years while putting your paycheck into an interest bearing account while drawing your pension as payment while working after achieving retirement age (20-25 years).

At the end of three years, that 36 months of compounded salary is paid out in a lump sum.

I've been considering buying a few years of service credit. I think it would cost me around $12K right now and allow me to retire in my mid 50's.