Melissa Ross
The latest salvo in Jacksonville’s long-running battle over its pension problems comes from City Councilwoman Lori Boyer.
Boyer has filed legislation that would reduce pension benefits for police and firefighters that are hired on starting Oct. 1.
It’s an aggressive move and apparently the first time someone on the council has filed a measure stating that the body has the authority to unilaterally make changes to the city’s fraught pension system.
Chris Hand, chief of staff for Mayor Alvin Brown, said Boyer’s bill is the same type of package Brown has already proposed:
“Since imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, we are flattered and pleased that Councilwoman Boyer now supports the same pension benefits package for new public safety employees that Mayor Brown has twice presented to city council. However, we are concerned that an attempt to impose benefits on new employees without going through the collective bargaining process is legally problematic. We will be consulting with the Office of General Counsel and our outside pension counsel Jim Linn for guidance.”
Jacksonville’s $1.7 billion in unfunded pension liability is drawing negative attention beyond the borders of Duval County and has resulted in a downgrade of the city’s credit rating. It’s become a major mayoral campaign issue, and a pressing problem all parties agree needs resolution. But untangling the Gordian knot of the Jax pension mess is easier said than done. Multiple unsuccessful attempts have littered the local political battlefield. But the pressure is real. No local pol wants any more comparisons to the nightmare financials of Chicago or Detroit.
Meanwhile, Hand remains optimistic, telling reporters, “We continue to agree with the 16 community leaders who served on the Retirement Reform Task Force that Jacksonville needs a comprehensive pension solution that addresses not only benefits but also Police and Fire Pension Fund governance and the Fund’s unfunded liability. Mayor Brown will continue to work with stakeholders like the Police and Fire Pension Fund, former Retirement Reform Task Force members, Jacksonville Civic Council, and City Council to achieve a comprehensive solution to our city’s biggest financial challenge.”
