WEIRTON, W.Va. — “After I got shot at, I got run over, I got dragged down the highway 150 feet on my back, I have suffered.”
Members of law enforcement risk their lives protecting the citizens of Weirton. Now, they are calling for change.
Current and retired police and fire personnel pensions are underfunded. Officials spoke to leaders on why they need to come up with a plan of action.
The city’s police and firefighters’ pensions and relief funds are nearly tapped out, and officials asked city leaders to think on how they’re going to come up with a new funding source.
One by one, law enforcement officials went before council.
Attorney Mike Nogay is the general counsel for the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #84. He explained how they should fix the current deficit, and Mayor Bubba Miller responded.
“The time to act is now, the situation gets worse every month. Meanwhile, the hard work of this police force continues to make it possible for us to live and work in one of the safest cities in West Virginia,” Nogay said.
“The city is not going to abandon you. We are also responsible for the taxpayers’ money, and we can’t spend money we don’t have yet,” Miller said.
The city agreed police and fire pension funds needs to be adjusted in order to continue pensions for the current and retired personnel as well as the families of retirees.
Mayor Miller went on to say that they are currently working to find a solution that best fits them and the city’s taxpayers.
http://wtov9.com/news/local/pensions-running-out-for-weirton-police-firefighters