Pension proposal would extend age-60 rule to more field workers

A proposed pension amendment would require more Powder Springs field employees to reach age 60 before using the city’s Rule of 78 route to unreduced retirement benefits, according to the draft amendment’s summary. For that group, age and credited service adding up to 78 would not be enough.⁠[1]

The Georgia city’s council unanimously approved the first reading on Nov. 2, according to its action summary. ORD 26 -015 is scheduled for second reading and adoption Monday, Nov. 16, at 7 p.m.—not a completed final approval.⁠[2][3]

The draft contains conflicting instructions. Its age-qualification section checks both “Must have attained at least age 60” and “Must not satisfy any minimum age requirement.” The amendment summary and Georgia Municipal Association cover letter describe an age-60 requirement for the affected group. The letter also uses Nov. 26 once for the vesting cutoff, then Nov. 16; the agreement’s summary uses the Nov. 16/17 boundary.⁠[1][4]

Under the draft amendment’s summary, the age-60 minimum would extend to field personnel who become vested on or after Nov. 17, 2026, in addition to those initially hired or rehired in those positions on or after July 20, 2026. The draft uses seven-year cliff vesting: benefits become fully vested after seven years of total credited service and remain unvested before that threshold.⁠[1]

A separate provision would preserve the Rule of 78 without a minimum age for qualifying field personnel who held those positions on July 19, 2026, were vested before Nov. 17 and are not subsequently rehired. Employees must still be working for the city when they meet the Rule of 78 qualifications, the GMA letter says.⁠[1][4]

“Field personnel” means eligible regular employees in police, public works, and parks, recreation and cultural affairs whose jobs require them to be out of the office and in the field at least 75% of the time. The definition excludes civilian, executive-assistant and other office-bound employees in those departments.⁠[1]

The Nov. 16 meeting is at City Hall, 4483 Pineview Drive. Residents wishing to comment must register in person from 6:40 to 7 p.m.; the first 12 registrants receive five minutes each. There is no virtual public-comment option.⁠[3]