With several candidates elsewhere in the state already being targeted for their support of a new Tier VI pension plan, and the state’s biggest union announcing it is pulling all political support and donations in the wake of the pension vote, it is only a matter of time before the contentious decision becomes an election issue in Rochester-area races. When it does, keep this in mind: Local lawmakers who voted for the new, less-generous benefits package did the right thing. The Tier VI retirement level for public workers was a much-needed step toward reform in an area that has been a budget-buster for municipalities throughout the state, including Rochester. While its provisions appear modest — raising the mandatory retirement age from 62 to 63, for example — Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office insists they will save as much as $80 billion for the state’s towns, villages and cities over the next 30 years. That’s because increases in pension costs have been crushing local budget writers. In Rochester, pension costs will increase from $31.3 million to $54.8 million — some 75 percent — next fiscal year, according to Mayor Thomas Richards’ office. They’re estimated to rise to $64.5 million within four years. These costs are simply unsustainable. Even though the savings are necessary, and even though Tier VI will affect only future hires, the state’s 265,000-member Civil Service Employee Association is screaming bloody murder, and has suspended all its political activity. Let them. The fact is, lawmakers deserve credit for this vote. Those lawmakers, locally, include Assembly members Sean Hanna, David Gantt, Harry Bronson, Brian Kolb Mark Johns, Joseph Morelle and Bill Reilich; and state Sens. James Alesi, Michael Nozzolio and Joseph Robach. The dead-of-night manner in which the bill was passed was disappointing, but the legislation itself was much-needed. Remember that when pension reform becomes a political issue this fall.