In 1962, Baltimore's mayor and City Council made a solemn promise to our police officers, firefighters and public safety workers to provide them with retirement benefits, line-of-duty disability benefits, ordinary disability benefits and death benefits in lieu of Social Security. Our police and firefighters face working conditions that are far more dangerous than most and have a high risk of work-related death and disability. These men and women have earned the benefits that the city promised in exchange for their service to the city and its residents.
During the past 10 years, the city has failed to make good on its promise. Specifically, it has not contributed amounts necessary to safeguard the benefits guaranteed by the Fire and Police Employees' Retirement System. Rather, it has used the savings to balance its budget.
We recognized the problem and, almost a year ago, our organizations submitted a proposal to the city and the pension system's trustees to ensure the long-term sustainability of the system and protect the benefits that had been promised by the city. We knew then that the pension system was at risk. We were left waiting for a response
