JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Action News has obtained the latest actuarial report from the City. It shows the City's contribution into police and fire pensions has grown to about 82%. Three years ago, it was just shy of 50%.
"I don't think I know of any other municipal pension plan that contributes 82% of every dollar paid to an employee into a pension fund," said City Councilman John Crescimbeni.
He said current penion contributions are simply not sustainable. Not to every city pension plany, but specifically police are fire pensions.
Right now, the Mayor's proposed budget is a total of $945 million. $150 million comes right off the top for pensions. And $122 million of that goes directly to police and fire. And that's just pension, not salaries or any other employee related expense.
"It doesn't take too talk to figure out that there seems to be a problem with police and fire pensions," said Crescimbeni.
Police are fire pensions are negotiated between the Mayor and the respective unions. Mayor Brown says he's making that a priority, and that a reform plan will be on the table by the end of this year.
Cresimbeni agrees, it's time to take action. Because if costs continue to escalate, you, the taxpayer, will start noticing a difference.
He said, "It's going to put tremendous pressure on the rest of city government. And it's going to force drastic cuts in a lot of service citizens would normally be used to receiving."
