City employees call for audit

City officials say they believe employees participating in the drive primarily are police officers and firefighters who are disgruntled over proposed changes to the pension system, which will be considered by City Council April 17.

At the April 3 council meeting, council considered changes to the pension board, including eliminating positions on the board for the Police and Fire chief and adding the city manager or designee as chair of the board.

Changes also include reducing the pension amount from 2.8 percent times the number of years of experience to 2.5 percent. That change would only affect new employees.

Any changes made would be to offset a $2.8 million shortfall in the pension fund discovered in 2004.

If the audit is required, Springfield taxpayers would bear the cost, estimated at between $60,000 and $80,000. The city’s annual independent audit last year cost $102,350. Results for 2005 were released in December.

City Manager Bob Cumley could not be reached for comment, nor could members of the Police and Fire pension board.

See SBJ's April 10 issue for more on the Police-Fire Pension System, including proposed board changes.[[In-content Ad]]