Retirement System Lawsuit

The director of the firefighter retirement system said today (on occasion of filing a lawsuit) that recent benefit changes were made to fix the City's unbalanced budget. She is missing a point that must concern all taxpayers: The Fireman's Retirement System is breaking the Fire Department's budget, which has increased 43 percent in the past ten years. This year, the pension costs alone are approximately 30 percent of the entire fire budget. Next year, it will be more. Unchecked, there will not be a fire service, just a retirement system.

We will contest the lawsuit. Meanwhile, talks with firefighters and their representatives continue.