Clay Yarborough decided Tuesday to send pension reform back one step, a move he said will ensure taxpayers receive the best deal in light of new information.
Bill Scheu calls the City Council president’s action “playing politics.”
“This is so wrong,” said the former chair of the Jacksonville Retirement Reform Task Force. “I think he is looking to the election … and it’s time for leadership to step up.”
Absent a special meeting, the re-refer means pension reform won’t be heard by the full council again until March 25 at earliest — the day after the first election Mayor Alvin Brown where he faces three opponents.
Yarborough rejected the notion the decision was political, reaffirming late Tuesday his action was with taxpayers in mind.
Scheu’s criticism stems from Yarborough’s decision to re-refer a long-discussed pension deal to three council committees. The deal would take care of the governance and benefits portions of reform.
It was primed for a vote Tuesday before Yarborough announced his decision, citing new information relating to mortality tables and their effects on pensions. In effect, the longer a person lives, the longer they’d receive a pension.
Council member Lori Boyer during committees last week brought up the newest mortality tables, updated in 2014 by the Society of Actuaries. The difference, she said, could be as much as $150 million.
The city’s pension plans use a 2000 table with tweaks along the way.
The mortality tables “are no reason whatsoever to hold up retirement reform,” said Chris Hand, Mayor Alvin Brown’s chief of staff. In an email, Hand said the city doesn’t have to use the 2014 tables and the city actuary has objected to their validity because they exclude data from public-sector pension plans.
“No matter what mortality tables are used, the fact is that the pension reform proposal will save taxpayers far more than the status quo,” said Hand.
Yarborough said the new information could significantly affect the financials of the deal.
“I do want to get this done as soon as possible, but it needs to be the right agreement,” said Yarborough.
His decision immediately drew an appeal. The vote to overturn Yarborough’s decision failed 11-7.
Scheu said he heard of the decision after departing a plane in Richmond, Va., and said he was immediately dismayed when he heard of the delay.
“It’s time to put up or shut up,” he said. “Politicians can always find something to avoid making a decision.”
Asked whether he had any advice for the council, Scheu said he’d tell Yarborough to resign for his lack of leadership.
When told of the comments, Yarborough said he had the “utmost respect” for Scheu and such comments were easy to make in emotional moments.
But, if the two were to talk, he thinks Scheu would understand the need to ensure council approves the best deal for the city.
Yarborough said he’ll call Scheu on Wednesday to listen to his take on the subject, but hoped Scheu would have respect for the will of the majority of council who sided with him on the matter.
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