Should Los Angeles' park rangers, port police and other peace officers be able to move their pensions over to the Los Angeles Fire and Police Pension plan?
A proposed Los Angeles city charter amendment that would allow certain peace officers — like those who work at LAX — and park rangers to transfer their pension plans to one some say will provide better benefits is on the November ballot for voters to consider.
Make It Make Sense: Election 2024 Edition
If passed, Measure FF would allow officers from the Police, Airport, Harbor and Recreation & Parks departments to move their plans from the Los Angeles’ City Employees’ Retirement System to the Los Angeles Fire and Police Pension. Supporters say the latter could offer more for retirement income if employees stay on it for more than 20 years.
The measure needs a simple majority to pass.
Official ballot title: Los Angeles Fire and Police Pensions; Peace Officers Charter Amendment FF
You are being asked: Shall the City Charter be amended to: allow peace officers employed by the Police, Airport, Harbor, and Recreation and Parks Departments to transfer membership and service from the Los Angeles City Employees’ Retirement System to the Los Angeles Fire and Police Pension Plan; and require the City to pay associated costs, including refunds to certain Airport and Police Department members for prior transfers?
-
A "yes" vote means: You want peace officers to transfer their membership, years of service, and retirement contributions from the Los Angeles City Employees’ Retirement System to Los Angeles Fire and Police Pension Plan.
-
A "no" vote means: You do not want peace officers to transfer their membership, years of service, and retirement contributions from the Los Angeles City Employees’ Retirement System to Los Angeles Fire and Police Pension Plan.
How it would work
If approved, the charter amendment would give about 460 Police, Airport, Harbor, and Recreation and Parks department employees the option to transfer their pensions over to the Los Angeles Fire and Police Pension plan, according to the city’s administrative officer. They would be given a time period, most likely in January, when they could elect to transfer their pension plan.
-
City of Los Angeles
- City Council: Vote for districts 2, 10 and 14.
- Charter Amendment ER: A package of ethics reforms designed to fight corruption at City Hall. Plus: Charter Amendments DD, FF, HH and II.
L.A. County
- Board of Supervisors: Measure G would dramatically overhaul county government.
- District Attorney: Criminal justice reform, or more law-and-order justice?
- LA Unified school board: Voters are also deciding on a $9 billion facilities bond and a redistricting measure.
- School district measures: Schools have a lot of repair needs.
- Superior Court judges: Plus: Tips to make sure you're putting right person on the bench.
Statewide races
- Whoa! There are 10 propositions on the ballot. Here's your cheat sheet to Props. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36.
Jump to the full Voter Game Plan for dozens more races ▶
Marshall McClain, president of the Los Angeles Airport Peace Officers Association, the union that took the lead on placing this measure on the ballot, said it’s about “parity.” He explained that the change would allow more city employees to move from the plan primarily for civilian workers to one from which other sworn officers benefit.
For example, employees under the civilian pension plan who need to retire because of a disability, are eligible for 33.3% of their highest salary, while personnel on the sworn officers pension would be eligible for 30-90% tax free.
The history behind it
Changes in law have allowed people working in jobs like port security and park rangers to become sworn peace officers. But they could not simply switch from the city’s civilian pension plan to the sworn officer pension plan, said Sharon Tso, L.A.’s chief legislative analyst. For that to happen, voters have to approve it.
Who supports it:
- Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass
- L.A. Councilmember Bob Blumenfield
- L.A. Councilmember John Lee
- L.A. Councilmember Paul Krekorian
- L.A. Chief Park Ranger Joe Losorelli
A draft of the argument in favor of Measure FF, notes that it would would give all city peace officers the opportunity to be covered by the same pension plan no matter what department they work for. “All of these peace officers must meet the same training and licensing requirements, perform similar functions, and face similar risks,” the argument reads. “They should be eligible for the same benefits.”
What people who oppose it say
No information was immediately available on any opponents.
Potential financial impact
The charter amendment would have an estimated one-time cost of $109,500,000, with an estimated annual cost of $6.3 million, according to the city administrative officer: The Airport Revenue Fund, and Harbor Revenue Fund will pay the majority of those costs. The city’s General Fund will pay a roughly $23 million one-time payment and approximately $1 million annually.
Before you read more, we wanted to take a moment to tell you about our mission here at LAist, and why we're so dedicated to helping you get ready to vote.
In the lead-up to this important election, our hard-working reporters and editors spent hundreds and hundreds of hours researching and writing these detailed guides and fact-based resources. We invested that time because we're here to help you vote confidently and make your community a better place.
But we cannot do this essential work without your help. We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
At a time when the need for local journalism has never been greater, many newsrooms are facing cutbacks, including LAist. Member support — your support — is what will sustain a free press in Southern California.
LAist’s mission is to be here for you, so please be here for us now with a donation to power our trusted local reporting. Step up right now and make the choice to give. Because that’s exactly what it is — a choice. It's choice with consequences. If readers do not choose to step up and donate, the future of fact-based news in Southern California will not be as strong.
No matter what happens in the world, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust.
Thank you for your generous support.
Sincerely,
-
(she/her)
This voter guide originally published Oct. 4.