Grand Junction council OKs scheduled increase to police and fire retirement contributions

The Grand Junction City Council on final passage approved an ordinance to increase the city’s employer contributions to public safety retirement plans, aligning police 401(a) contributions with the schedule used by the Fire and Police Pension Association (FPPA).

Shelley Caskey, the staff presenter, told council the change is intended to "maintain alignment across the two" public-safety retirement plans and described the phased schedule adopted by the FPPA. "This year would be moving us to an 11% contribution for our fire department personnel that are contributing to the FPPA Association," she said, noting the FPPA schedule phases contributions up to a 13% maximum by 2030.

The ordinance places the police 401(a) employer contribution on the same incremental path as the FPPA schedule. No public speakers approached the podium during the hearing. Councilmember Wind moved the ordinance and Mayor Pro Tem Lutz seconded; council voted unanimously to adopt the measure on final passage.

City staff framed the change as an equity and alignment issue between police and fire retirement plans rather than a change to benefits. The ordinance as drafted sets the employer contribution schedule and calls for publication in pamphlet form as required for municipal ordinance adoption.

The council’s action follows staff analysis and was presented as consistent with maintaining sustainable retirement funding for the city’s public-safety workforce. The ordinance passed by roll call vote with all seven councilmembers recorded as supporting the measure.