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Brian Head approves 5.98% retirement contribution pickup for public safety Tier II employees
Summary
The Town Council adopted Resolution 26-575 on June 9, electing to pick up the 5.98% employee contribution for participants in the Public Safety Tier II retirement system effective July 1, 2026, to mitigate benefit disparities for transitional hires.
The Brian Head Town Council voted unanimously on June 9 to pick up the 5.98% employee contribution for employees enrolled in the Public Safety Tier II retirement system, adopting Resolution 26-575 effective July 1, 2026.
Shane Williamson, administrative service director and treasurer, presented the resolution. Chief Dan Benson, public safety director, described the historical context: the Utah Legislature restructured public employee retirement benefits in 2012, creating a Tier 2 system that initially provided a reduced benefit for a transitional group of public safety hires. Chief Benson said that transition (sometimes described informally as 'the lost boys') left some employees with a materially smaller retirement benefit and that the Legislature later restored a stronger '25-50' structure for newer hires but did not automatically reclassify the transitional group.
Chief Benson said the town’s decision to pick up the 5.98% employee contribution is intended to partially offset that disparity and to help retain public safety staff. The resolution language directs the Town to formally pay the employee contribution required under subsection 49-23-301(2), as enacted in SB 56 (Public Safety and Firefighting Tier 2 Retirement Enhancements, 2020 General Session).
Council Member Tidwell moved adoption of Resolution 26-575 and Council Member Logan Cruz seconded; the motion passed 4-0 (Mayor Pro Tem Duane Nyen, Council Member Freeberg, Council Member Cruz and Council Member Tidwell voting yes; Mayor Calloway absent).
The action does not change state law or reclassify employees; it elects a local employer-paid pickup of the employee contribution beginning July 1, 2026. Chief Benson said he hopes the Legislature will eventually equalize Tier 2 benefits for all affected employees, but no state action occurred at the meeting.
The council’s personnel decision will be implemented by the Town’s payroll/administrative services to reflect the employer-paid contribution for eligible public safety employees.
