Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiMarch 17, 2017

The slow walk by the Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund toward policy marginalization continued apace Friday, as the five-person board of trustees offered “review and discussion” of the city’s latest pension proposal. The General Counsel contended earlier this week that the PFPF had no role in the pension decision, arguing that the 2015 pension […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 17, 2017

On Friday, the Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund held its monthly meeting of trustees. It was the first such meeting since the city agreed to tentative pension deals with the police and fire unions last weekend. As part of that deal, the city will no longer be obligated to the terms of the 2015 […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 19, 2016

Though it wasn’t an agenda item, interesting talk before the meeting outside the board room included some profound skepticism about the mechanics of the Deferred Contribution plan, upon which the Lenny Curry pension tax/reform proposal is predicated. Asked her position before the meeting, Executive Director Beth McCague noted that, since changes can happen in the bill in […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 1, 2016

The Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee had an action-packed Monday meeting, highlighted by unanimous approval of two pension bills, FSCJ downtown housing, and Maxwell House incentives. Meanwhile, the Term Limit referendum proved more controversial. And the Safety Officer cure legislation discussion, as ever, was “delicate.” • • • 2015-422 would allow Police and Fire Pension Fund Board […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 21, 2016

The second of two big public notice meetings of Jacksonville City Council members Thursday involved a familiar subject: the subpoenas of Police and Fire Pension Fund material, requested last year as part of the “forensic audit” of the pension fund that some on Council regard as gospel, and that others outside of Council regard as blasphemy. […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 18, 2015

The Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund Board of Trustees selected Willard Payne as its fifth member on Friday during its final meeting of 2015. Larry Schmitt nominated, noting his experience with the Jax Chamber, the Port Authority, and other boards. “I think his experience and expertise in business dealings would make him a good […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 20, 2015

The big story from the Friday meeting of the Jacksonville Police & Fire Pension Board of Trustees: the appointment of an interim executive director and administrator: Beth McCague. McCague, a veteran finance professional, was approved by a vote of the board to start on Dec. 1, and to serve for up to a year, or […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 2, 2015

On Monday, Jacksonville Councilman Bill Gulliford convened a fractious public notice meeting related to the Police and Fire Pension Fund involving the Board of Trustees, the Concerned Taxpayers of Duval County, and (by phone) PFPF trustee Bill Scheu, as part of a “cast of thousands” in attendance. Larry Schmitt, chair of the pension fund, noted irregularities, such as the […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 29, 2015

One of the major projects of the Alvin Brown administration was comprehensive pension reform, a path that took the relationship between the Jacksonville Mayor’s Office and City Council through many twists and turns. The findings of the Police and Fire Pension Fund audit were described by Councilman Bill Gulliford as “reprehensible … with a vast and staggering sum of […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 18, 2015

The last Rules Committee meeting of the Jacksonville City Council in August had an appointment-heavy agenda, yet there was room also to address two major issues. Included on the agenda: 2015-508, which increases fines on unlicensed contractors to bring it in line with state recommendations; and 2015-522, a bill addressing emergency roadway clearance and post-disaster […]

Tag: Bill Scheu

Jax PFPF Board Chair: ‘I think the mayor’s plan is terrible’

Jacksonville PFPF trustees throw cold water on Lenny Curry’s pension deal

Jax PFPF pushback on pension tax looms, in context of market turmoil

Jax Council Finance OKs pension bills, FSCJ downtown housing, term limit expansion

Jax Council renews call for transparency from Police and Fire Pension Fund

Willard Payne voted onto Jax police, fire pension fund board

Jax pension board’s interim director called “breath of fresh air”

Jax PFPF forensic audit pilloried in public notice meeting

Chris Hand addresses Jax PFPF governance reforms in light of audit

Contractors, disaster prep on agenda in Jax Rules committee