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Beaumont fire retirement officials report litigation, vacancies and governance gaps as FSRP deadline nears
Summary
Beaumont Fire Pension officials told the PRB lawsuits and persistent vacancies are slowing the conversion and hiring plan, the board seeks city cooperation on funding and a joint FSRP due Sept. 1, and PRB urged the city and plan to submit a jointly approved plan.
Representatives of the Beaumont Firemen’s Relief and Retirement Plan told the Pension Review Board that litigation, vacant positions and uneven city participation are complicating the plan’s path to financial stability, and that the plan and city are working toward a joint FSRP due on Sept. 1.
Luke Shelton, chairman of the Beaumont board, and Brandon Williams, the board’s newest trustee, described a multi-year effort that the board said has produced “some traction” but remains incomplete. Shelton said the board is seeking the city’s assistance to implement elements of an agreed timeline.
Sherry Reed, who identified herself during questioning as the city attorney, explained that lawsuits — including one filed by an EMS employee and related union intervention — have disrupted plans to convert civilian EMS positions to sworn firefighter positions through attrition. Reed said the city previously converted 9 positions as a pilot and added 12 positions in April 2024; she said many added positions remain vacant.
Beaumont presenters and PRB members discussed the board’s governance and communication with city officials. Shelton and other trustees said the board has pursued benefit changes and a second tier for new hires (implemented Feb. 2022) and increased employee contributions; they asked the city to take further steps, such as funding vacant positions or making lump-sum contributions, to help the plan meet solvency targets.
PRB staff and members recommended closer coordination between the city and the pension board, including a jointly signed FSRP and more frequent joint updates. PRB members expressed concern about governance gaps, inconsistent city representation on the board and the slow rate of implementing revenue or funding measures tied to the FSRP process.
Beaumont representatives said they have been seeking a joint update and meetings with the city manager for more than a year and recently received a response; they reiterated an intent to file a joint FSRP by the Sept. 1 deadline. No formal PRB vote or board action was recorded on Beaumont’s FSRP at this meeting.
