Sheriff’s office urges board to adopt FPPA coverage to improve retention; commissioners request formal action session

Clear Creek County sheriff’s office leaders on Oct. 21 urged the Board of County Commissioners to approve enrolling sworn deputies in the Fire & Police Pension Association (FPPA), arguing the change is essential to attract experienced law‑enforcement applicants and to stabilize retention.

Sheriff’s staff and the interim command presented commissioners with staff survey results, outside letters from law‑enforcement professionals who said they would join the county if FPPA were available, and a cost projection. The board heard that most current deputies favor FPPA even if it requires a 1.9 percentage‑point additional employee contribution FPPA has associated with agency entry in this case — staff said 27 of 31 surveyed would switch to FPPA even with that contribution. Presenters argued FPPA provides a defined benefit better matched to the physical and mental demands of policing and that it is a strong recruitment tool given neighboring agencies already offer FPPA or comparable public‑safety retirement benefits.

Budget and costs: staff and finance showed the county’s projected maximum annual cost of adopting FPPA and stepping up employer contribution to the FPPA schedule (the packet modeled the county cost to reach the maximum employer rate scheduled by 2029). The draft budget included a projected county cost (peak model) of about $136,773 annually (modeling assumptions in staff materials). Staff clarified the additional 1.9% actuarial surcharge FPPA applies to agencies newly enrolling is calculated at the agency level and can decline over time as FPPA actuarial factors change and as employer/employee balances in the fund increase. Staff also noted that implementation can take many months; any change would require board action and coordination with staff and FPPA for a binding transition.

Why it matters: the sheriff’s office argued the county is at a competitive disadvantage in recruiting and retaining mid‑career officers without FPPA or an equivalent public‑safety retirement plan. Commissioners said they appreciated the presentation and the strong community support shown when voters approved a ballot question on FPPA consideration (the board was reminded a prior ballot measure passed with wide voter support). Commissioners requested an action session to consider whether and how to proceed, and they debated cost‑sharing options (commissioners signaled support for a county contribution but differed about whether to cover the FPPA surcharge fully or partially). Several commissioners said they favored a middle path — e.g., sharing the surcharge — while keeping the public‑safety retirement for sworn officers as the objective.

Ending: The board directed staff to schedule a formal action session on FPPA in short order so commissioners could deliberate a binding resolution and, if approved, begin an implementation timeline with FPPA and the county’s finance staff.