Ordinance 2014- - TMRS Service Credits ORDINANCE 2014-12
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AND ALLOWING, UNDER THE ACT GOVERNING THE
TEXAS MUNICIPAL RETIREMENT SYSTEM, "UPDATED SERVICE CREDITS" IN SAID
SYSTEM ON AN ANNUAL BASIS FOR SERVICE PERFORMED BY QUALIFYING
MEMBERS OF SUCH SYSTEM WHO AT THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE ALLOWANCE
ARE MEMBERS OF THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE; PROVIDING FOR INCREASED PRIOR
AND CURRENT SERVICE ANNUITIES FOR RETIREES AND BENEFICIARIES OF
DECEASED RETIREES OF THE CITY; AND ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE FOR
THE ORDINANCE.
WHEREAS, the City of Huntsville, Texas is a participating municipality in the Texas Municipal
Retirement System ("TMRS"); and
WHEREAS, City staff researched various plan provisions and costs and presented findings to
the City Council in a workshop on May 22, 2013; and
WHEREAS, adopting the 50% repeating COLA provision and the 50% repeating Updated
Service Credit provision provides the most retirement benefit to City employees and retirees at a
contribution rate most affordable to the City.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS:
Authorization of Updated Service Credits.
(a) On the terms and conditions set out in Sections 853.401 through 853.404 of
Subtitle G of Title 8, Government Code, as amended (hereinafter referred to as the "TMRS
ACT"), each member of the Texas Municipal Retirement System (hereinafter referred to as the
"System") who has current service credit or prior service credit in the System in force and effect
on the 1st day of January of the calendar year preceding such allowance, by reason of service
in the employment of the City, and on such date had at least 36 months of credited service with
the System, shall be and is hereby allowed "Updated Service Credit" (as that term is defined in
subsection (d) of Section 853.402 of the TMRS Act).
(b) On the terms and conditions set out in Section 853.601 of the TMRS Act, any
member of the System who is eligible for Updated Service Credits on the basis of service with
this City, who has unforfeited credit for prior service and/or current service with another
participating municipality or municipalities by reason of previous service, and was a contributing
member on the 1st day of January of the calendar year preceding such allowance, shall be
credited with Updated Service Credits pursuant to, calculated in accordance with, and subject to
adjustment as set forth in said Section 853.601, both as to the initial grant hereunder and all
future grants under this ordinance.
(c) The Updated Service Credit hereby allowed and provided for shall be 50% of the
"base Updated Service Credit" of the member (calculated as provided in subsection (c) of
Section 853.402 of the TMRS Act).
(d) Each Updated Service Credit allowed hereunder shall replace any Updated
Service Credit, prior service credit, special prior service credit, or antecedent service credit
previously authorized for part of the same service.
(e) In accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of Section 853.401 of the
TMRS Act, the deposits required to be made to the System by employees of the several
participating departments on account of current service shall be calculated from and after the
effective date of this ordinance on the full amount of such person's compensation as an
employee of the City.
Increase in Retirement Annuities.
(a) On terms and conditions set out in Section 854.203 of the TMRS Act, the City
hereby elects to allow and to provide for payment of the increases below stated in monthly
benefits payable by the System to retired employees and to beneficiaries of deceased
employees of the City under current service annuities and prior service annuities arising from
service by such employees to the City. An annuity increased under this Section replaces any
annuity or increased annuity previously granted to the same person.
(b) The amount of the annuity increase under this Section is computed as the sum of the
prior service and current service annuities on the effective date of retirement of the person on
whose service the annuities are based, multiplied by 50% of the percentage change in
Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, from December of the year immediately
preceding the effective date of the person's retirement to the December that is 13 months
before the effective date of this Section.
(c) An increase in an annuity that was reduced because of an option selection is
reducible in the same proportion and in the same manner that the original annuity was reduced.
(d) If a computation hereunder does not result in an increase in the amount of an
annuity, the amount of the annuity will not be changed hereunder.
(e) The amount by which an increase under this Section exceeds all previously granted
increases to an annuitant is an obligation of the City and of its account in the Benefit
Accumulation Fund of the System.
Dates of Allowances and Increases. The initial allowance of Updated Service Credit and
increase in retirement annuities hereunder shall be effective on January 1, 2014, subject to
approval by the Board of Trustees of the System. An allowance of Updated Service Credits and
an increase in retirement annuities shall be made hereunder on January 1 of each subsequent
year until this ordinance ceases to be in effect under subsection (e) of Section 853.404 of the
TMRS Act, provided that, as to such subsequent year, the actuary for the System has made the
determination set forth in subsection (d) of Section 853.404 of the TMRS Act.
Effective Date. Subject to approval by the Board of Trustees of the System, this ordinance
shall be and become effective on the 1st day of January 2014.
Passed and approved this the 17th day of December 2013.
THE CITY OF HUNTSVIL E
AY"Z",Mac Wood rd, Ma r
ATT T: APPROVIPD AS TO FORM:
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Lee oodward, City Secretary Le d Schneider, City Attorney