AAC NewsPoints
AAC Chief Counsel Mark Whitmore (foreground, center) leads a discussion among some County Judges prior to the group meeting with select mayors and Arkansas Municipal League leadership and staff in early September. The two groups sometimes find themselves competing for the same dollars when the Legislature is in session. But they also share some common interests when it comes to local government, and they spent a morning of informal discussion about ways they can work together heading into the 2011 legislative session. “It’s in everybody’s best interest when we can find common ground to build upon, espe- cially in these economically challenging times,” said AAC Director Chris Villines. “County government can’t afford to lose ground when it is being called on to do more and more, often with very slim resources.”
APERS board boosts employer contributions effective next year
Te Arkansas Public Employees Retirement
System board voted Aug. 18 to increase the em- ployer contribution rate beginning July 1, 2011 to 13.47%, up from the 12.46 percent currently paid into the system. Tis affects all members, including state, county and city government. “Te news is unfortunate for all of us as we continue to suffer from a stagnant economy and flat-lined or decreasing property tax income in our counties,” said Chris Villines, Executive Di- rector.
Te increase is a result of decreased funds in
the APERS trust during a period of growth in retirement obligations. Tis number is always subject to change, but only if the APERS ac- tuarial information shows a major change in returns on investments. In each of the last 10 years, updated actuarial information has not
COUNTY LINES, FALL 2010
changed significantly enough to change the number once it has been set. “Furthermore, the preliminary information
shows increases in contribution rates for fiscal years 2011 through 2013, though these figures will be adjusted on an annual basis depending on the rate of return of APERS investments be- tween now and August, 2011,” said Villines. “While this is not good news for our strug- gling counties, it is a sign that the APERS Board is working to keep our program solvent. Many other states are suffering greatly and their en- tire public employee retirement systems are in jeopardy. We can be thankful that the APERS Board of Directors is continually working to keep our retirement system in good shape,” he added.
David Morris, longtime Assistant to the Direc-
tor at AAC, was treated to a “good luck and best wishes” cake on the day before he took a leave to focus on his campaign for Mayor of Searcy. Morris, a White County native who served a term as White County Judge before joining AAC, will be out of the office until after the election. If successful, he will continue his work with Arkansas county judges and other officials through December.
AAC Legislative Director Jeff Sikes does a lot of his work “behind the scenes”. He is just back from a trip to Washington, D.C. as he continues to play a key role in helping secure the reauthorization of federal Secure Rural Schools funding.
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