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Charles County commissioners receive annual updates on pension, sheriff retirement plan and volunteer LOSAP
Summary
County staff told commissioners the county’s defined-benefit pension plans remain institutionally managed, approved studies will analyze earlier retirement eligibility and buyback credit costs, and LOSAP and OPEB funding currently show stable balances with planned modest contribution growth.
Alexis Blackwell, the county’s director of human resources, told the Charles County Board of Commissioners that the Charles County Pension Plan (SEAP) and the Sheriff’s Office Retirement Plan (SORP) are county‑sponsored defined‑benefit plans funded by employee contributions and county contributions and administered by separate committees. “The committee acts as plan administrators for the plan, and they're responsible for maintaining the benefit information, for ensuring legal compliance, and for providing you all with recommendations for amendments to the plan,” Blackwell said.
Blackwell said the committees approved studies to evaluate potential plan enhancements, including analysis of a “Rule of 85/87” change that would let some employees retire in their mid‑50s without a reduced benefit, and a study into allowing staff to purchase up to three years of public service credit to account for gaps or nontransferable service from other Maryland employers. She also said staff reviewed handling of non‑vested former employee participant funds and that SORP recently added two committee members and implemented a revised asset‑allocation strategy; staff flagged an actuarial cost increase for FY26.
Jake Dyer, director of fiscal administrative services, presented the Length of Service Award Program (LOSAP) and other post‑employment benefits. Dyer said LOSAP — paid in part from a 6.25% portion of the fire and rescue tax rate — had contributions of $1,100,000 in fiscal year ’26, benefits paid just over $1,000,000, and an investment balance of $25,000,000 as of June 30. “This program has been around since the early 1970s… once you reach a certain age and reach certain criteria, you then receive a benefit,” Dyer said.
On OPEB (Other Post‑Employment Benefits), Dyer said the county contributed just over $11,000,000 toward the plan in fiscal year 26 and that the FY27 adopted budget includes $11,000,000; staff described a plan to grow contributions by about 3% annually thereafter and noted consultant Bolton Partners completed an actuarial review that met GASB 73 requirements. Dyer said staff may add an extra contribution after the June 30 report if the board chooses.
Why it matters: the pension, LOSAP and OPEB commitments represent ongoing county liabilities and influence future budget choices. Commissioners asked procedural and legal questions, and staff said they will return with detailed cost estimates and proposed language where statutory or code changes are needed. The work session produced no formal votes; staff will bring legislative drafts and additional information to future meetings.
