Appropriations panel OKs PERS IT and one‑time developer funding; FTE additions left undecided

A House Appropriations Government Operations Division subcommittee on Tuesday approved funding to keep the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) operating at its current service level while also authorizing one‑time money for contracted developers, but the panel delayed a decision on adding two new full‑time positions.

The subcommittee voted to move forward with an ongoing cost‑to‑continue IT increase of $298,906 and approved a one‑time appropriation of $539,595 for additional contracted developers and a project manager to finish several large IT projects, including an electronic retiree portal and enrollment “wizards.” The panel placed a question mark — effectively tabling a decision — on a request to add two FTEs (an enrollment specialist and an accounting position) that PERS staff said are needed after the agency’s shift from a defined‑benefit to a defined‑contribution model.

Why it matters: PERS is implementing major system and program changes after the closure of its main defined‑benefit plan under last session’s House Bill 1040. Agency leaders told the committee the changes substantially…