Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Lloyd DunkelbergerJanuary 17, 2018

Florida counties will have to contribute an additional $66 million to the state pension fund in the new budget year, according to legislation that has started moving in the Senate. As a result of a decrease in the assumed rate of investment return on the $160 billion pension fund, counties, school boards, state agencies, universities, […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 31, 2017

Mayor-Lenny-Curry-Florida-State-Capitol-02242016-1024x1024.jpeg

Jacksonville’s big legislative accomplishment in the 2016 session was getting an unprecedented bill through Tallahassee, one which would allow the city to access the guaranteed revenue from a future sales tax extension, once it closed one of its three pension plans. As collective bargaining continues between the city and its unions, the 2017 session also […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 25, 2017

On Monday, a political ally of Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry filed a bill that would close the Florida Retirement System’s defined benefit plan to new cities. This is particularly relevant to Jacksonville’s police and fire unions, both of which want to see new hires put in the FRS defined benefit plan as a condition of collective bargaining. […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 24, 2017

Jacksonville City Councilman Tommy Hazouri made his position clear Tuesday relative to legislation closing the Florida Retirement System’s defined benefit plan to new cities. The legislation, said Hazouri, is “dead on arrival.” [Worth noting: there is a House and Senate version of this bill. Rep. Jason Fischer filed House Bill 353, while Jeff Brandes filed Senate Bill 428. Each bill […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 23, 2017

House Bill 353 and Senate Bill 428, filed on Monday, would foreclose enrollment in the Florida Retirement System’s defined benefit plan to any city not currently involved. While the defined contribution arm of FRS would be open to new municipal entrants, the defined benefit option would not. The bill was filed in the Florida House by Jacksonville Republican […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 14, 2016

The crossroads for pension plans for new hires in Jacksonville is here, and is casting a shadow over virtually every aspect of the city’s future. The latest bond rating trip for the city, for example, saw the pension issue – and whether or not Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry will succeed in getting at least one […]

Phil AmmannAugust 2, 2016

Florida’s state retirement system is showing a net gain over the past fiscal year, a streak of positive returns now in its seventh year. LobbyTools reports the Florida State Board of Administration released preliminary investment performance figures Tuesday for the fiscal year ending June 30. The numbers show the Florida Retirement System Pension Plan earning […]

Tag: FRS

Counties face increased pension costs

Pushback emerges against bill closing FRS defined benefit plan to new cities

Jacksonville offers seven year agreement to firefighters in collective bargaining

Tommy Hazouri: FRS reform legislation is ‘dead on arrival’

Legislature mulls closing FRS defined benefit plan to new cities

John Rutherford, a former Jacksonville sheriff, discusses police pensions

Florida state pension plan posts 7th year of positive gains, now worth $141B