On Tuesday night the Jacksonville City Council, in a 16-3 vote, approved new pension reform legislation, seen as a major step forward in a very long journey in the effort to tackle the city’s massive pension costs.
We spoke with veteran Florida Times-Union reporter David Bauerlein about where the pension package goes from here.
"The next step will likely involve some back-and-forth with the board of the Police and Fire Pension Fund," says Bauerlein.
Mayor Alvin Brown has expressed hope the board will approve the agreement. A vote could come before the end of 2014.
Two of the board members are elected by police and firefighters and two are appointed by City Council. The fifth board member, former sheriff Nat Glover, is president of Edward Waters College.
"He could be a critical swing vote," says Bauerlein.
The new pension legislation would make changes in cost-of-living increases for current and future police and fire employees, among other changes, all designed to rein in spiraling pension costs.
It would give City Council the authority to impose further benefit cuts in three years if there is an impasse in future collective bargaining talks.
