Raising FD, PD and DOC Retirement Ages Sends Mixed Message, Sen Says

During a session of the 34th Legislature’s Committee on Rules and Judiciary in St. Croix, lawmakers voted unanimously to forward the measure, Bill 34-0099, which would afford those professionals the option of retiring at 65 instead of 55.

“We know that individuals are living longer,” said Senator Novelle E. Francis, Jr. on behalf of the bill’s sponsor, Senator Dwayne DeGraff. “We know that there’s a number of individuals that once they meet 60 that they continue to work. They were forced to leave these various disciplines--police department, bureau of corrections and fire--and seek employment elsewhere.”

While a temporary provision allowed for employees of the Virgin Islands Fire Department (VIFD), Police Department (VIPD) and Department of Corrections (VIDOC) to retire at age 63, that law expired. The current bill seeks to extend the maximum retirement age to 65 years old and make it a permanent policy. Sen. Francis stressed that the bill would not raise the minimum retirement age. 

The measure received widespread support from the lawmakers in attendance, but not without contention. Senator Alma Francis Heyliger voiced her support for the bill but questioned why lawmakers would support a policy that raised the retirement ages for firefighters, police and corrections officers but refused to even vote on a measure she sponsored to raise the retirement ages of Senators to 65.

“I do find it a little bit ironic that when I brought Bill 34-0108 to increase the retirement ages of senators, all of the arguments that I’m hearing here today, specifically from one of the sponsors of this legislation, were the very arguments that were being used to not increase the age of senators,” said Sen. Francis Heyliger. “So I’m a little bit confused as to: which one is it?”

During his introduction of the bill to raise the maximum retirement age for fire, police and corrections personnel, Sen. Francis, Jr. noted that the bill would benefit the struggling Government Employee Retirement System (GERS), which faces a looming bankruptcy.

“This allows for them to continue to pay into the GERS system, extend the life of the GERS system as well as continue to maintain some seniority within their various disciplines and continue working,” said Sen. Francis Jr.

In October, GERS Administrator Austin Nibbs testified that he supported raising the maximum retirement age for fire, police and corrections employees, but that it would have “de minimis” impact on the GERS multi-billion dollar unfunded liability.

Just a day later, senators blasted Sen. Francis Heyliger’s bill to raise the minimum retirement age for senators to 65 with many of the legislators knocking its inability to have a substantial impact on the GERS.

During Monday’s session of the Committee on Rules and Judiciary, Sen. Francis Heyliger offered her support of the measure as it heads to the full Senate, but reiterated her belief that the retirement packages afforded to lawmakers should mirror that of the average government employee, who can retire no earlier than age 65.

“At the end of the day we need to be a reflection of the people we represent,” said Sen. Francis Heyliger.