The Miami Dolphins are inviting PBA members and their families to their game against the Carolina Panthers at SunLife Stadium on Sunday, November 24 @ 1pm. Tickets start at $35, and $10 from each ticket sold will benefit the Broward County PBA HOPE Fund.
To purchase tickets, click here and follow the link. Remember to use promo code PBA.
May 22, 2013
Changes/Clarifications To The City of Hollywood's Most Recent Contract Offer
The city has responded to our questions and concerns. You can see the response here.
Letter Re: HPD's Major Sanchez
We received an anoymous letter from a member at the Hollywood PD regarding Major Sanchez.
May 21, 2013
State & Local Government Pensions Facts
Public Pension Plans Are Not In a Current Crisis
Most state and local employee retirement systems have substantial assets to weather the economic crisis. There is currently $2.7 trillion already set aside in pension trusts for current and future retirees.
Public pensions are funded and paid out over decades; state / local government retirees do not draw down their pensions all at once.
State and local employee retirement systems do not seek federal financial assistance. One-size-fits-all federal regulation is neither needed nor warranted and would only inhibit recovery efforts at the state and local levels.
Public Pension Liabilities, Debt Loads, and Retiree Health Benefits Are Issues With a Long-Term Time Horizon
More state and local governments enacted significant modifications to improve the long-term sustainability of their retirement plans in 2010 than in any other year in recent history.
In the past few years, nearly two-thirds of states have made changes to benefit levels, contribution rate structures, or both; many local governments have made similar fixes to their plans.
While pension obligations are legally binding, often backed by explicit state constitutional or statutory guarantees, states are generally free to change any provision of their retiree health plans, including terminating them, because they do not carry the same legal protections. Therefore, it is misleading to combine unfunded pension liabilities with the unfunded retiree health benefits as an argument for impending pension meltdown.
Long-Term Investment Returns of Public Funds Continue to Exceed Expectations
Over the last 25 years that saw three economic recessions and four years of negative median public fund investment returns actual public pension investment returns averaged 9.25 percent, which exceeded projections.
These actual returns exceed the 8% average public pension investment assumption, as well as the average assumed rate of return used by the largest corporate pension plans.
Retirement Systems Remain a Small Portion of State and Local Government Budgets
The portion of state and local government spending dedicated to retirement system contributions is about three percent.4 Pensions are a trust that public retirees and their employers contributed to while they were working.
While there are pension trusts that are fully funded with enough assets for current pension obligations, there are legitimate issues with underfunding because of the Great Recession and stock market declines. Some experts argue that a modest increase in contributions to take advantage of compounded interest, modifications to employee eligibility and benefits, or both, may be sufficient to remedy the underfunding in most states.
The unprecedented number of benefit and financing changes in public plans over the last few years will help to minimize any required increases. The vast majority of public employees are required to contribute a portion of their wages-typically, five to ten percent-to their state or local pension, and these contribution rates are being raised in many state and local governments.
Pension Dollars Help the Economy of Every Jurisdiction
Public employees live in every city and county in the nation. More than 90 percent retire in the same jurisdiction where they worked. The over $175 billion in annual benefit distributions from pension trusts are a critical source of economic stimulus to communities throughout the nation, and act as an economic stabilizer in difficult financial times. Recent studies have documented public retirement system pension distributions annually generate over $29 billion in federal tax revenue, more than $21 billion in annual state and local government tax revenue, and a total economic impact of more than $358 billion.
"Facts you Should Know". Joint fact sheet by NLC, NGA, NCSL, CSG, NACo, USCM, ICMA, NASBO, NASACT, GFOA, and NASRA. February 2011.
May 14, 2013
Updated Contract Proposal - Hollywood
View the contract proposal dated May 10, 2013 here.
Public Records Request: Hollywood Staffing Contingency Plan
The City of Hollywood has honored our public records request and provided us with its staffing contingency plan.
May 8, 2013
Attention Retirees Or Soon-To-Be-Retirees
The Coconut Creek Police Department is now accepting applications for three (3) part-time School Resource Officers.
Monday to Friday work schedule
Work approx. 10 months a year
Spring Break, Winter Break and summers off
Three (3) paid personal days off
Pay is $26.32/hr.
You can apply online at http://www.coconutcreek.net/. The deadline for applications is Sunday, May 12
If you have any questions, you may call Sgt. Henry Cabrera at 954/973-6712.
May 7, 2013
LEGOLAND Florida's Public Safety Appreciation Days
LEGOLAND Florida is saying thank you to Florida's public safety professionals with their Police, Fire and EMS Appreciation Days. Public safety employees with department-issued IDs will recieve a free, one-time, single-day admission to LEGOLAND Florida for use during the month of May.
You will also be able to purchase up to four (4) additional tickets for only $40 per person (regularly starting at $64 for adults/children 13 and over or from $56 for kids 3--12 and seniors).
April 29, 2013
Broward County Law Enforcement Memorial Service
To honor the fallen officers of Broward County, a memorial service will be held on Tuesday, April 30 at 7 pm at the Broward College Central Campus.
Broward College - Central Campus
Institute of Public Safety
Bldg. 21
3501 Davie Rd.
Davie, FL 33314
Showdown Of The Shields Benefit For Special Olympics
Showdown of the Shields is an endurance weightlifting competition open to LEOs, firefighters and those in the military. Proceeds from the entry fees will benefit The Special Olympics.
February 20, 2013
Hallandale Beach Contract Vote
The ratification vote for the 2012-2015 City of Hallandale CBA will take place:
A story in the Miami Herald says that lawmakers' plans to close the state pension system are on hold after a report on costs of the plan was deemed incomplete.
Screening: Heroes Behind The Badge
A special screening of this documentary will benefit the NLEOMF and the BPMA.
The screening is on March 21 at 7pm. For more information, check the flyer.
Deerfield Beach
Peggy Noland - Mayor
Richard Rosenzweig - Commissioner
Miramar
Troy R. Samuels - Commissioner
Winston F. Barnes - Commissioner
Pompano Beach
Lamar Fisher - Mayor
Charlotte Burrie - Commissioner
Woodrow J. Poitier - Commissioner
Sunrise
James H. Tabeek - Commissioner
Please note that these are the official endorsements for this election; the list in the Februrary edition of The Broward Centurion is incorrect. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused.
