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County Government Systems Seek To Reorganize PDF Print E-mail
NOVEMBER 1998 - Legislation On Deck Before House - In what has become a Beacon Hill soap opera of sorts, the retirement systems of the state’s abolished counties are seeking legislation to reorganize into regional retirement systems.

As we reported in the September edition of the Voice, the state is set to abolish Hampshire, Essex, and Berkshire Counties over the next two years. Within the past year, Middlesex, Hampden, and Worcester Counties have been eliminated. While still in operation, the retirement systems of the former counties have fought to establish a new identity aside from the troubled county government.

Legislation that was passed to close down the county governments (Chapter 48, Acts of 1997; Chapter 300, Acts of 1998) did not include provisions to set the course for the former county retirements systems. Governor Paul Cellucci vetoed sections of the county bill which reconstructed county retirement systems. Cellucci has objected to provisions which require the municipalities within the former counties to payoff the unfunded pension liability associated with the former county employees and retirees.

“The cities and towns have some concerns about being strapped with the unfunded liability. There has been some hope that the state would absorb the costs into its own system, but so far that has not happened,” said Association Legislative Liaison Shawn Duhamel. “Either way, it is important to our members to have stability in the county retirement systems.

Regional Focus

Unfortunately, the sections of Chapter 300, vetoed by the Governor in August, contained language which revamped the former county retirement systems into new regional systems. The focus of the new systems was to be the municipal employees and retirees who encompass 90% of the systems’ membership.

As Chapter 300 moved towards passage, another bill, H-5305 (An Act To Replace Retirement Systems of Abolished Counties) was reported favorably by the Joint Committee on Public Service. Chaired by Senator Richard Moore (D-Uxbridge) and Representative Timothy Toomey (D-Cambridge).

After being discharged from Public Service, H-5305 was placed before the Senate Committee on Ways and Means for further review. Committee Chairman Stanley Rosenberg (D-Amherst) released a new version of the bill, S-2331, which was quickly engrossed by the Senate.

The language contained within S-2331 is identical to the language previously vetoed by the Governor in Chapter 300. However, it is crafted in such a way to survive the threat of another veto.

Upon reaching the House, the bill was remanded to the Committee on Counties under “Rule 33”. The legislative rule requires that any bill, which may have an effect on county government, must be reviewed by the Committee on Counties, chaired by Rep Antonio Cabral (D-New Bedford).

Originally thought to be on the fast track, S-2331 has yet to be acted on by the Committee on Counties. As of press time, it is unclear as to what action the Committee will take on the bill during the remainder of the session. County retirement officials plan to refile the bill in 1999 if S-2331 is not passed prior to January.
 
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