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Council votes to consider rescinding earlier rejection of offering FRS and Social Security after employee survey shows strong support
Summary
After staff reported that 83 employees responded to a city survey and that roughly 80 percent would enroll in FRS plus Social Security if offered, Destin's City Council voted 6–1 to consider rescinding an earlier decision that had declined to make FRS available.
City staff presented the results of an employee survey the council had requested on whether city employees would enroll in the Florida Retirement System (FRS) and Social Security if offered. The city said it conducted two staff information sessions and then distributed a SurveyMonkey questionnaire to employees; 83 employees responded.
Survey results: 83 respondents answered whether they would enroll in FRS plus Social Security if the option were offered; about 80 percent (67 respondents) said they would enroll. On the second question'whether FRS plus Social Security should be offered as an option to City of Destin employees'97.5 percent (81 of 83) said yes. The city reported about 115 full‑ and part‑time employees total.
Cost estimate: staff told council that offering FRS plus Social Security to all full‑time staff would raise the city's annual cost by roughly $480,000; using the survey's response rate (about 80 percent) staff estimated an initial annual cost of about $384,000. Council members noted that offering the program would require a fiscal commitment in the operating budget and legislative steps (an ordinance with two public hearings) to enact.
Council action: after debate, including concerns about timing and budget impacts, a motion to consider rescission of the prior council action (that had not offered FRS) passed 6–1. Several council members said they supported letting employees choose and that the change could help employee recruitment and retention; opponents emphasized the fiscal impact on taxpayers and the need to budget for recurring costs.
Next steps: a rescission vote would permit council to schedule formal consideration of an ordinance, including two public hearings, and staff said the council would consider the budget impacts in subsequent sessions.
