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Police union urges pension board to request study on reinstating COLA for Sarasota officers
Summary
Union representatives told the Sarasota Police Officers Pension Board that the department's cost-of-living adjustment was cut during an economic downturn and not restored; they asked the board to request an actuarial study to quantify future costs if COLA is reinstated, to aid negotiation with the city commission.
Jeff Steiner, a lieutenant with the Sarasota Police Department who identified himself as representing IUPAA Local 6043, told the Sarasota Police Officers Pension Board that the department’s cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) was cut during an economic downturn and has not been reactivated.
"When I signed up to be a police officer, I was told I was going to get COLA," Steiner said, asking the board to request a study showing what reinstating COLA would cost going forward. He said the union is not seeking retroactive payments but wants a mechanism so COLA would resume when conditions allow.
Jamie Glockner, a sergeant at the Sarasota Police Department and vice president of the union identified herself during public input and supported the request for a study. Trustees asked for comparative data, including how property-tax (ad valorem) revenue has tracked relative to previous COLA formulas and how nearby municipalities handle COLA and retiree adjustments.
Board members and staff emphasized the decision to reinstate COLA would involve collective bargaining and likely require city-commission action. Trustees agreed an actuarial study would be a prudent first step to show the plan-level and city contribution impacts before any formal negotiation with the commission or the union.
The board did not take formal action on the COLA request during the meeting; trustees and union representatives agreed the union would send a letter requesting the start of negotiations and that the study would be the appropriate next step to inform bargaining and any future city-commission consideration.
