Council hears pension amendment extending transfer window for Sheriff’s Office plan to 18 months

Robbie Samos, identified in the hearing as the County Treasurer, presented Bill 260001 proposing a change to the Harford County Sheriff’s Office pension plan to permit transfers of service credit within an 18‑month window instead of the current six months. Samos said the amendment responds to concerns raised by employees and the correctional officers association that six months did not provide enough time for workers to make an informed transfer decision; the plan’s board of trustees has also expressed support.

Samos described the county’s approach to balancing employee and county costs: the sheriff’s office plan is about 88% funded, and preliminary actuarial work estimated an additional annual required contribution of approximately $3,000 per year of service transferred (for example, five years transferred could imply roughly $15,000 of additional annual required contribution until amortized, though Samos cautioned final actuarial analysis is required). He said employees would be required to supply amounts from prior plans or personal funds equal to the statutory share described in the plan (cited in the hearing as 9% of salary times years transferred), and that the county’s contribution would be actuarially determined.

Council members asked clarifying questions about which employee groups the change would affect and the fiscal tradeoffs for expanding pensions to other emergency services; Samos said those options have much larger fiscal impacts. Luke Husman, a resident who spoke during public comment, voiced strong support for the amendment and thanked Sheriff Gaylor and county leadership for backing it. The public hearing closed; council action on Bill 260001 is scheduled for March 17.