Cherokee Nation reviews Marshals Service retirement study, projects roughly $12.1 million illustrative liability

Samantha Hendrix, director of human resources, told the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council that a market and retirement study of the Cherokee Nation Marshals Service finds the service competitive with peer agencies and models the costs of a possible defined‑benefit pension for marshals. "The Cherokee Nation Marshals Service Compensation consistently meets or exceeds standards for law enforcement professionals," Hendrix said, summarizing benchmarking against federal pay scales and peer tribal agencies.

The presentation described a marshals roster of 90 active officers and a proposed accelerated five‑year vesting look‑back (with a vesting date of Jan. 31, 2021). Hendrix presented illustrative liability figures: $6,000,000 for officers already vested, an additional first‑year service cost of $309,000, and an estimated $5,000,000 combined liability for the next 68 officers projected to vest over five years. Taken together, the slides and summary materials showed a total illustrative cost near $12,100,000 — a figure Hendrix emphasized is sensitive to market conditions and hiring levels.

Hendrix also summarized recent and proposed pay adjustments, saying the organization applied a 1.7% salary increase for fiscal year 2025 and recommended base‑salary adjustments for fiscal year 2026 in the range of 1%–3.8% to maintain competitiveness. In the presentation she reported that average marshal salaries were higher than federal benchmarks; transcripted statements in the briefing included both “salaries on an average of 7% higher than the standard Federal pay rates” and later “We’re sitting at 77 percent above the Federal pay scale.” The report emailed to council members is expected to clarify the correct benchmark figure.

Chief Chuck Hoskin prefaced the briefing by referencing the Marshall Act amendments of 2024 and urging the council to examine retirement options while noting no policy decision was being recommended immediately. "This will be the first time that an answer has been offered as to what steps, what are the financials associated with such a move," Hoskin said, framing the briefing as an initial step.

Council members asked procedural and substantive questions. Hendrix confirmed the Cherokee Nation will remain on a 401(k) plan while the council receives the analysis: "We are staying as we're reviewing this information, we will be continuing the 401(k) plan," she said. She described a look‑back to determine vested service rather than restarting benefits for all employees, and reiterated that the slide deck and accompanying written report are informational and that staff would provide more detailed findings by email for later deliberation.

The presentation materials and council remarks make clear next steps: staff will circulate the full written report and the council may raise further questions after members have reviewed the detailed financial analysis. No formal motion to change the retirement system for marshals was made during the session.