2021.07.19 CC Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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14669 Fitzgerald Avenue North, Hugo, MN 55038 • (651) 762‐6300 • www.ci.hugo.mn.us TO: Honorable Mayor Tom Weidt and Members of the City Council FROM: Anna Wobse, Interim Finance Director SUBJECT: Firefighter’s Relief Association Pension Increase DATE: For the City Council Meeting of July 19, 2021 DESIRED COUNCIL ACTION Motion to Ratify Board of Trustees Request for $300 Increase in Lump‐Sum Pension and Approve Revised By‐Laws OPTIMUM PENSION BENEFIT LEVEL On April 2, 2012, the City Council adopted a Resolution Adopting the Firefighter Relief Pension Fiscal Policy. The policy sets the optimum pension benefit level as the average lump‐sum benefit provided by relief associations that receive state fire aid within 10% of the amount received by the Hugo Firefighter’s Relief Association, as last reported by the Office of the State Auditor. According to the Office of the State Auditor, twelve other lump‐sum relief associations received state fire aid in 2020 within 10% of the amount received by Hugo. These associations are located in: Albertville, Becker, Park Rapids, Vadnais Heights, Isanti, New Prague, Waconia, Albert Lea, Little Falls, Fergus Falls, Ham Lake and Marshall. Staff feels that this is a very good sampling of associations. Using data from these twelve associations, staff can establish the optimum pension benefit level at $4,267 per year of service. This average is $367 above the current benefit amount and staff recommends that we reach this average with an immediate increase of $300. The Board of Trustees voted to increase their lump‐sum pension benefit from $3,900 per year of service to $4,200 and is asking the City Council to ratify this increase as well as approve a revision to the by‐laws incorporating this new benefit level. FINANCIAL STATISTICS The Finance Department has reviewed the financial status of the relief association and finds that the recommended increase will result in the following: Total Pension Assets: $2,387,397 (projected) Total Pension Liability: $1,508,542 (after $300 increase) Projected Surplus: $ 878,855 (58% of liability) The attached projections show that the investment portfolio can withstand a 35% market correction while still maintaining a surplus. RECOMMENDED PENSION BENEFIT LEVEL INCREASE Staff is recommending the City Council approve a motion to ratify the Board of Trustees request for a $300 increase in the lump‐sum pension benefit and approve a change to the by‐laws incorporating this new benefit level. This will bring Hugo’s pension benefit to $4,200 per year of service (within $67 of the optimum level described above).