Opp council: No to retiree bonus
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, August 19, 2014
A motion made by Opp Councilman Mike Booth to push through a one-time lump sum payment to City of Opp retirees failed to get a second and died Monday night.
The state legislature passed a bill in the last session that provides agencies such as the city of Opp with the opportunity to grant a one-time lump sum payment to retired members and beneficiaries of deceased retirees who retired prior to Oct. 1, 2013 and are entitled to receive a monthly retirement benefit from the employees’ retirement system on Sept. 30.
Under the legislation, the retiree would receive a one-time lump sum payment of $2 per month for each year or service credited to the retiree’s account or $300, whichever is greater.
Additionally, the beneficiary would receive $300.
Payment would have been made in October.
The estimated cost to the city would have been $15,040.
District 2 Councilman T.D. Morgan said he didn’t think the city could afford the bonuses.
District 1 Councilman Bobby Ray Owens agreed.
District 4 Councilwoman Mary Brundidge abstained from voting because she is retired from the city, as did District 5 Councilman Arlin Davis.