The so called “30-year agreement” between the city and Police and Fire Pension Fund has been voided by a 4th Judicial Circuit judge.
That agreement, restated in 2001, has dictated pension retirement benefits for public safety officials and long been a point of contention.
The decision comes from Circuit Judge Tom Beverly in a ruling on a case involving Curtis Lee and The Concerned Taxpayers of Duval County against the City of Jacksonville and the Police and Fire Pension Fund.
Lee and the taxpayers' group asked the court to determine if the city and fund violated state Sunshine Law by holding private meetings to negotiate benefits. They contended the negotiations that gave rise to a proposed 2011 pension deal were illegally done, which rendered the old deal illegal.
In his ruling dating March 24, Beverly states that since the 30-year agreement was negotiated in violation of the Sunshine Law, it is void ab initio — meaning it has been invalid from the start.
In his ruling, Beverly said voiding the deal "has no effect on current pension terms."
He said current levels can't be changed until the two sides enter collective bargaining.