Columbus, Georgia

Georgia's First Consolidated Government

Post Office Box 1340
Columbus, Georgia, 31902-1340
(706) 653-4013
fax (706) 653-4016

Council Members

Minutes



COUNCIL BRIEFING

Meeting

April 10, 2006



Members Present: Mayor Pro Tem John J. Rodgers and Councilors R. Gary Allen,

Wayne Anthony, Glenn Davis, Berry Henderson, Julius Hunter, Jr., Charles E.

McDaniel, Jr., Nathan Suber, Evelyn Turner Pugh (arrived 8:10 a.m.), Evelyn

Woodson (arrived 8:17 a.m.). Also present were Mayor Robert S. Poydasheff

(arrived 8:32 a.m.), City Manager Isaiah Hugley, Deputy City Managers Lisa

Goodwin and David Arrington, City Attorney Clifton Fay, Finance Director Angela

Cole and Deputy Clerk of Council Sandra Davis.



Members Absent: No one was absent.

======================= ======== ====================

This meeting was called to order at 8:05 a.m., in the Council Chambers

Conference Room, Plaza Level of the Government Center.



*** *** ***

Topics of Discussion:

City Manager Hugley advised that we have one topic for discussion; the

Retirement Benefit Strategy Study. He pointed out the study was conducted by

Buck Consultants. He recalled the discussion over the past year to go back to

2%. He pointed out that the decision was made to reduce the retirement pension

benefit from 2% to 1.5% in 2003. He then called upon Mr. James

(unintelligible) from Buck Consultants to provide a presentation.



Mr. James (unintelligible) came forward and provided a power point presentation

as well as a handout. He then made reference to the document entitled

?Columbus Consolidated Government Retirement Benefit Strategy Study? that was

passed around the table. (A copy of this document was submitted and is on file

for the record.) He pointed out that Buck Consultants have conducted a study

to determine the long-term cost of going back to 2% and have provided some

alternatives.

Alternative benefit considerations:

Alternative 1: Addition of a matched defined contribution plan

Alternative 2: Impact of voluntary state pension programs

Alternative 3: Addition of a Social Security bridge benefit

Alternative 4: Add employee contributions to defray the cost of increasing

benefit multiplier from 1.5% to 2.0%



Cost Impact of Increasing Benefit Multiplier to 2.0%

The very long-term cost of increasing the benefit multiplier to 2.0% for

employees hired after mid-2003 is

1.4% of payroll for the General Employees plan

1.8% of payroll for the Public Safety plan



City Manager Hugley pointed out that in FY-08 if the decision were made during

that budget cycle to go back to 2%, we would see no change in the contribution

to the pension plan; then, in 2009, we would have gone to 17.76. He said if we

had stayed the course, we would have contributed $350,000 more.



In response to a question of Councilor Anthony, City Manager Hugley advised

that we have more than $2 million in our pension fund. He then recognized the

presence of Mr. Henry Swift and Mr. Richard Swift with the City?s pension fund.



Councilor McDaniel asked if we go back to the 2%, would we have to increase the

retirees as well, at which time, Mr. James (unintelligible) responded by saying

yes.



Councilor Allen suggested that the Administration schedule more meetings with

the employees to discuss the contribution plans.

*** *** ***



There being no further business to discuss and with the dialogue being

concluded, this meeting adjourned at 8:52 a.m.







________________________

Sandra T. Davis,

Deputy Clerk of Council

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