By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Stuck between a rock and a hard place.
The City of Great Bend and city council have to make a decision on strengthening the retirement plan for fire and police employees, but also make sure they don’t jeopardize the city’s finances trying to pay for the boosted benefit.
The majority of the first responders want the city to switch over to the Kansas Police & Fire pension that comes with a higher employer contribution and guaranteed pension upon early retirement. The city is hesitant with signing up because of rising costs with the plan.
A fireman spoke before the city council Monday and said not having the KP&F
plan, which the majority of the state uses, the Great Bend Fire Department has
and will struggle to retain staff. He listed the experience and training the city
lost as a four-year employee left the department earlier this month to work
somewhere else.
"Here's a list of training and certifications that the City of Great Bend paid for and has now lost over his four years: EMT, AEMT, paramedic, BLS, ACLS, PALS, PHTLS, driver operator, Fire 1, Fire 2, hazmat awareness, hazmat ops, fire instructor, fire officer, ICS 100, ICS 200, ICS 700, ICS 800, leadership training, open-water scuba diver, swift water rescue and boat operator."
If the city joined the KP&F plan in 2023, the employer contribution on each
member’s gross wages would be 22.86% into their retirement plan. Sticking with
the city’s current pension plan provider, Mission Square, would give the city
more control on how much goes into each employee’s fund.
"My challenge to you as councilmembers...you want to know how to retain team members? Come ask us, but ask us directly. Not by a survey, don't ask Kendal (Kendal Francis, City Administrator), Randy (Randy Keasling, Human Resources Director) or even Chief (Luke) McCormick. They're not the ones looking to leave...it's us sitting on the truck room floor."
A .20% sales tax increase was approved by voters last November that will be
assigned to improve the retirement plans for fire and police. The increased tax
is expected to generate $750,000 per year. The city is concerned the tax won’t
cover the expense of KP&F’s rising city contributions in just over 10
years.
Read previous stories on the city's public safety retirement by clicking the links below.
Great Bend hears emotional support for better police & fire retirement
Big decision for Great Bend's police and fire retirement plans
How Great Bend will finance new pension plan for fire and police