Firefighters Fund Challenges Benefit Changes

The trustees are asking a court in Broward County to find that the ordinance making the changes is invalid because it was not approved by the City Commission or submitted to city voters in compliance with governing law.  

According to the complaint, the ordinance freezes the current benefit structure as of September 30, 2011, and implements a new structure “designed to lower substantially the benefits to members subsequent to October 1, 2011, from those to which the members were entitled prior to that date.” The ordinance makes changes to how monthly remuneration and average final compensation are to be calculated for members.  

The ordinance also delays the normal retirement date, eliminates cost of living adjustments for benefits going forward and eliminates a deferred option retirement plan (DROP), which allows members to continue employment after their retirement date and defer retirement benefits into an income-producing account.  

In addition, the ordinance eliminates as a future source of pension system funding an excise tax set up under Florida law.