BY THE NUMBERS* 449: Number of police officers the city had employed in 1999 when changes to the deferred retirement option plan were made* 408: Number of police officers currently on city payroll* 20: Number of fire stations in 1999* 18: Current number of city fire stationsSource: Chattanooga Fire & Police Pension Fund
Chattanooga Councilman Jack Benson backpedaled Tuesday after Fire and Police Pension Fund board members told him that any changes to the current retirement plan could backfire and lead to lower recruitment and retention efforts.
“I’m beginning to change my mind on things now,” Benson said during a meeting on the Fire and Police Pension Fund.
Benson previously had said the city should evaluate whether news hires should have a 401(k)-type retirement plan.
But a plea from an accountant who oversees investment of the current retirement plan left some council members rethinking how changes should be made.