Janet Adkins | Pension360

Florida Lawmaker Turns to Legislature for Pension Audit

Florida Gov. Rick Scott recently shot down calls by state Rep. Janet Adkins and others for an investigation into Jacksonville’s Police and Fire Pension Fund.

Scott said the issue was a local matter and should be handled locally.

But Rep. Adkins is now asking her colleagues in the state legislature to help her investigate the pension fund and its deferred retirement option program.

From News 4 Jax:

Ongoing problems with the Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund is the subject of a meeting of state lawmakers Monday.

The Joint Legislative Auditing Committee will consider a request by Rep. Janet Adkins, R-Fernandina Beach, for an audit of the pension fund.

Two weeks ago, Gov. Rick Scott’s chief inspector general turn downed Adkins’ request to investigate the pension. That request was joined by City Council President Clay Yarborough and the mayors of Atlantic and Neptune Beach.

Melinda Miguel, chief inspector general, wrote Adkins saying, “It appears that your concerns would be more appropriately handled at the local level.”

[…]

“Clearly, the public trust is broken as it relates to how the Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund has handled its responsibilities,” Adkins said. “While I am disappointed that the Chief Inspector General has decided not to investigate the concerns I raised regarding the Jacksonville Fire and Police Pension Fund, I am committed to seeking a review of the pension fund and the questions that have surfaced over the last year.”

Specifically, Rep. Adkins wants an investigation into whether regulations were broken in the administration of the pension fund’s DROP.

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Florida Gov. Rick Scott Rejects Call for State Investigation Into Jacksonville Pension Fund

A state lawmaker, Jacksonville city council members and others have called repeatedly for a state investigation into the city’s Police and Fire Pension fund since late 2014.

Specifically, they want an investigation into whether regulations were broken in the administration of the fund’s DROP.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott finally addressed the issue on Tuesday, and declined to launch a state investigation. The matter, his office said, should be “handled on the local level”.

Atlantic Beach May Throw Support Behind State Investigation of Jacksonville Pension Fund

There is growing support for a state investigation into Jacksonville’s Police and Fire Pension Fund and its deferred retirement option plan (DROP).

At least one state representative and a handful of others, including city council members and a mayor, have called for a state investigation into whether the fund engaged in regulatory violations in its administration of the DROP.

Now the city of Atlantic Beach is considering joining the calls for an investigation.

From the Jacksonville Business Journal:

The Atlantic Beach City Commission may get behind calls for an investigation into the Police and Fire Pension Fund.

The commission, which meets Monday, could join Rep. Janet Adkins in requesting Gov. Rick Scott to order an investigation of the pension fund.

Atlantic Beach doesn’t contribute to the pension fund, but does contract with Jacksonville for its firefighting service, according to the Florida Times-Union.

In addition, the Atlantic Beach mayor, Carolyn Woods, has said that her constituents have a stake in the pension fund, as contributors to both Jacksonville and Atlantic Beach.

The city commission backing Adkins’ request would mark the first time a government agency has joined the pursuit.

Read more Pension360 coverage of the Jacksonville Police and Fire fund here.

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Several Jacksonville Council Members Support Investigation into Pension System

Earlier this month, Florida state Rep. Janet Adkins sent a letter to Gov. Rick Scott calling for an investigation into the Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund – specifically, the “questionable practices and possible mismanagement” of its DROP fund.

Now, several members of the Jacksonville City Council say would support such an investigation and are planning on writing to Gov. Scott as well.

From the Florida Times-Union:

Councilman Bill Gulliford said he sent Scott a letter last week asking him to take a “hard look” into the pension fund’s practices. Councilman Bill Bishop and Council President Clay Yarborough said they plan to send letters to Scott, as well.

[…]

In October, the Times-Union reported how the pension fund ignored findings by the City Council Auditor’s Office and city lawyers that the pension fund incorrectly applied regulations for participation in DROP. The Times-Union found that three individuals who entered DROP will collectively receive about $1.8 million more than they would under strict interpretation of the code.

“You have members of the public and taxpayers asking leaders how they can get away with this,” Yarborough said. “I don’t have a good answer for them.”

When asked Monday what they thought of Adkin’s call for a state investigation, many council members said they supported the idea.

“I think it’s a worthwhile exercise,” said Councilman John Crescimbeni. “I think the taxpayers have a right to know whether there’s any waste or fraud.”

Other council members say they don’t support an investigation, or remained non-committal:

Councilman Jim Love said a state investigation may be “overkill”, while Councilman Richard Clark said it would serve as a distraction to the city’s attempt at pension reform.

“It puts a bad taste in my mouth,” Clark said. “I don’t know what it solves by accusing them of something. We need to solve our pension issues. We need to solve them in a fashion that’s constructive.”

Councilwoman Denise Lee said she didn’t “really have an opinion on it,” and Councilman Robin Lumb said he had no comment.

Mayor Alvin Brown’s office didn’t respond to a message seeking comment.

The Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund is currently deciding whether to approve the city’s pension reform measure, which was passed by the City Council earlier this month.

Photo by pshab via Flickr CC License

Video: Lawmaker Calls for Investigation into Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension

Florida State Representative Janet Adkins called this week for state Governor Rick Scott to consider launching an investigation into possible misconduct at the Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund.

According to Rep. Adkins, the investigation would focus on:

– Why “a special pension plan…was designed for one or two beneficiaries”

– Whether rules and laws have been broken “in regards to the creation, management and regulation of the DROP accounts”

Watch the video for more.

Cover photo by pshab via Flickr CC License