School committee authorizes outside actuary to verify pension‑obligation numbers

The Brockton School Committee voted to authorize the superintendent to contract outside actuaries to verify the district's pension‑obligation bond figures, a step members said is needed after staff presented multiple methods that produce widely different school shares.

Superintendent (speaker) presented analysis showing several calculation methods produced different results: a 48% method using recurring salaries, a 63% method using payroll deduction codes, a 37% city‑provided figure and DESE's proposed method at about 32%. "We have to decide with the city which way we want to use," the superintendent said, and added the district expects a "steep increase" in 2029 that the committee should anticipate.

Mister Pina moved the measure to allow the superintendent to solicit contracts for actuaries to analyze the pension liability. "I would move that we allow the superintendent to go out to contract for actuaries to do the pension liability," he said. The motion was seconded and the committee approved it.

Members said they lacked full confidence in the current numbers and sought an independent verification. "I don't trust anybody over there; they're doing a calculation. The math is not matching," one member said, urging an outside review so the district and city would know the accurate split and could plan accordingly.

The committee directed the superintendent to follow procurement rules and to return with bids or cost estimates so members could review options before any contract is finalized. The vote authorizes the solicitation of actuary services; the committee did not set a final contract amount at the meeting.

Next steps: the superintendent will present procurement options and cost estimates to the committee and continue discussions with the city about which methodology to apply.