W.Va. Cities Still Seek Pension Aid

Officials from cities strapped by funding gaps in their police and fire pension funds continue to beseech the Legislature for help, the Herald-Dispatch of Huntington reports.

Lawmakers holding interim study meetings reviewed a new proposal that "includes putting new hires into a new, less costly retirement system," the article said. "The proposal will not affect police and fire personnel that are already involved in a pension fund."

The article explains that "Huntington will spend more than 20 percent, or $8.8 million, of its $40 million budget on pension costs this year. Under the current funding method, those costs will rise to $12.4 million by 2015 and will not reach their ceiling until they hit approximately $20 million between 2020 and 2022, according to the city's finance department."

Aid advocates want Gov. Joe Manchin to adding the issue to any upcoming special session agenda. A spokesman for the governor told the newspaper that would first "have to be a consensus by fire and police personnel, municipalities and legislators" in support of the proposal.