JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A controversial bill about the City's police and fire pension board is expected to be front and center in this afternoon's meeting at city hall.
The bill is sponsored by City Council Members John Crescimbeni and Bill Gulliford. If voted in, it will change the charter, to give City Council an additional appointment to the fire and police pension board, meaning they'd now be able to pick 3 out of the 5 board members.
President of Jacksonville Association of Firefighters, Randy Wyse, thinks its fair the way it is. "It's set up to where there's balance. We elect a firefighter, police elects a police officer, City Council appoints two and those four elect a fifth. We feel like if the City Council could appoint five, appoint the third, then it really throws the whole trustee board out of balance," says Wyse.
City Council Member Cremscembini says the bill would also clear up language to make it more clear that city council controls the budget.
Wyse says he believes that's what the bill is actually all about. "The police and fire pension board of trustees is there to take care of our pension fund. And make sure the right investments are being done, the money is being spent wisely. We're just worried about protecting what we've earned. And we feel like this move may shift the power a little bit."
We reached out the City Council Members Crescembini and Gulliford. Neither were able to meet for an interview before the meeting. But Action News will be inside the meeting and we will have all the late breaking developments tonight on Action News at five.
