17-A Benefits Sub(12-09-03) - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

City of Paris Council Benefits Subcommittee December 9, 2003 Page 11 considered under this constitutional amendment. City Attorney Schenk said that TML agreed that TMRS is a statewide system; and, it has been determined that the Firemen's Retirement Fund is not considered a statewide fund and would come under this law. Councilman Bell discussed the options. The city could do nothing or have an election and the citizens could vote to maintain local control. The city can vote to increase or decrease retirement benefits to the Firemen's Retirement Fund. He asked if the city forfeits by not placing it on the ballot, or if it fails, either way, does the city lose total control. City Attorney Schenk said the difference would be is that the city, by not doing anything, would not in any way diminish or decrease the benefits that are received under that retirement. Councilman Bell said the city would still be in full authority to increase benefits. City Attorney Schenk stated that if the City Council does not pass a resolution calling for an issue to be placed on the ballot in May, then the city would not have the option to decrease any benefits. Councilman Bell asked by placing this on the ballot, how will they get it to pass, because the tendency of many voters is to vote no. Councilman Bell said that how you put it on the ballot is very important. Mr. Anderson said you educate people that it is a local control issue instead of a state issue. City Attorney Schenk said how it is worded on the ballot has to be totally neutral. There can not be any sort of comment as to the effect of voting for or against the proposition. The City of Paris cannot expend funds as an organization to favor or to oppose the position. The city can educate with regard to the impact of a particular proposition on a ballot, but it cannot urge the people to vote one way or another. Individual council members can because that is their right to speak to the issue. The city cannot run an advertisement that says vote "no" on this proposition. City Attorney Schenk said he was still going to pull every string and resource that he knows of to get a further reading on the impact of this. He said he had a call into TML right now to find out if they know what the legislative background on this was and if it is consistent with the intent. The City Attorney said that a fair reading, and based on the information that TML has sent the city, is we do have a retirement program that is potentially impacted by this.