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Macon‑Bibb moves to amend pension charter to add $50,000 death benefit and preserve judges’ pensions
Summary
The commission approved a first reading of a charter amendment to add a one‑time $50,000 death benefit for certain vested active employees who die before drawing retirement and to adjust retired Superior Court judges’ benefit calculations after a state pay change; the change requires a second vote on Dec. 16, 2025.
The Macon‑Bibb County Commission on Dec. 2 approved the first reading of an ordinance to amend Appendices 1, 2 and 3 of the county charter affecting the county pension plans.
County counsel explained two principal changes. First, the pension boards proposed a one‑time $50,000 death benefit for active employees who vested in pension rights but left county service and later died before receiving retirement payments. Counsel said the change cannot be made retroactive to former employees under the applicable constitutional limitation cited in the meeting record and therefore applies only to current active employees. "A 1 time $50,000 death benefit" was the description used in the presentation.
Second, counsel outlined an adjustment to the retirement‑benefit calculation for retired Superior Court judges following a recent state law change in judicial pay structure. Under the prior county pension language, retired judges’ benefits were tied to the supplemental pay current judges receive from counties; a state law change allowing judges to opt into a higher state salary could eliminate local supplements and, absent charter language changes, reduce retiree benefits. County counsel presented a formula to set a base monthly payment (discussed in the record as about "$27.38 and 47¢ per month" as of Dec. 1, 2025) and to restore cost‑of‑living adjustments in a way counsel said preserves the dollar value of existing benefits.
Commissioners who serve on pension boards and those with potential financial interest filed written disclosures on the record; counsel advised that disclosure, rather than recusal, was appropriate for voting on the COLA measure that followed. Commissioner Wynne asked to be added as a co‑sponsor; the motion to approve the ordinance for the first reading passed unanimously and will return for a second reading on Dec. 16, after which, if approved, it will be submitted to the secretary of state for charter incorporation.
The commission’s approval on Dec. 2 constitutes the first of two required votes for a charter change; the ordinance will not be effective until the second vote and subsequent filing with state officials.
