HB1753(As Passed the House) - 1997 Regular Session

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Ways and Means

By: Representative Williams

House Bill 1753
(As Passed the House)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 21-29-27, 21-29-117 AND 21-29-219, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE MUNICIPALITIES HAVING A GENERAL MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM OR A DISABILITY AND RELIEF FUND FOR FIREMEN AND POLICEMEN TO INCREASE THE AD VALOREM TAX LEVY FOR THE SYSTEM OR FUND ABOVE THE MAXIMUM MILLAGE RATE OTHERWISE ALLOWED IN ANY YEAR IN WHICH THE MUNICIPALITY REDUCES THE AD VALOREM TAX LEVY TO PAY DEBT SERVICE ON BONDS ISSUED BY THE MISSISSIPPI DEVELOPMENT BANK FOR THE SYSTEM OR FUND; TO AUTHORIZE THE MUNICIPALITY AND THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM TO ENTER INTO CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENTS ADDRESSING THE USE, APPLICATION AND INVESTMENT OF PROCEEDS OF BONDS ISSUED BY THE MISSISSIPPI DEVELOPMENT BANK FOR THE SYSTEM OR FUND, AND THE RELATIVE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE MUNICIPALITY AND THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM WHILE THE BONDS ARE OUTSTANDING AND THEREAFTER; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 21-29-27, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

21-29-27. (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) of this section, the governing body of a municipality, after the passage of the ordinance provided for in Section 21-29-5, shall annually levy a tax as certified by the Public Employees' Retirement System on the taxable property within the municipality or use other funds available, to enable it to meet the requirements of the retirement system. The levy made, or other funds made available, for the municipality's contribution to the system shall be in an amount sufficient to make the system actuarially sound. The tax herein authorized is in addition to all other taxes authorized by law, and may be increased by no more than one-half (1/2) mill per year as certified by the Public Employees' Retirement System; however, if any levy to pay debt service on bonds issued under Section 31-25-21 as described in subsection (2) of this section is reduced for any year as a result of payment of the bonds or otherwise, the levy under this subsection (1) for such year may be increased by an amount, in addition to the one-half (1/2) mill otherwise authorized, not to exceed the reduction for such year in the millage levied to pay debt service on the bonds.

(2) In addition to, or in lieu of, the method of funding provided for in subsection (1) of this section, the municipality may fund or assist in funding the retirement system through the use of revenue bonds issued pursuant to Section 31-25-21. Any tax levied to service the debt on such bonds shall not be included in the ten percent (10%) limitation on increases under Section 27-39-321.

(3) Each municipality with a general municipal employees' retirement fund shall be provided an actuarial study of the fund at least every four (4) years by the Public Employees' Retirement System, which shall report the findings to the Legislature of the State of Mississippi. The first such study shall be filed with the Legislature in January 1980.

(4) The Board of Trustees of the Public Employees' Retirement System, when any municipality has enacted an enabling ordinance as provided in Sections 21-29-5 and 21-29-101, upon a finding that either the municipal employees' retirement system or the disability and relief fund for firemen and policemen is not funded in an actuarially sound manner which shall be spread upon the minutes of the board, may by order provide that the revenue or a portion thereof produced by the levy authorized for one (1) system be diverted to fund the less actuarially sound system within the same municipality. No transfer may be made of funds from one (1) municipality to another.

(5) The municipality and the Board of Trustees of the Public Employees' Retirement System may enter into such contracts and agreements as are deemed necessary to implement the provisions of this section, including, but not limited to, contracts and agreements addressing the use, application and investment of proceeds of bonds issued under Section 31-25-21 and earnings thereon and the relative rights and obligations of the municipality and the Public Employees' Retirement System during the period that the bonds are outstanding and thereafter.

SECTION 2. Section 21-29-117, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

21-29-117. (1) Except as otherwise provided for in subsection (2) of this section, the governing authority of said municipality, at the time the levy is made for other municipal taxes, shall annually levy a tax on the taxable property within the said municipality, and the proceeds therefrom shall be forwarded on or before the twentieth of the following month to the Public Employees' Retirement System. The levy made, and the deductions from the salaries of members, shall be in an amount sufficient, but not more than the amount necessary, to make the system actuarially sound by July 1, 2000, as certified to the municipality by the board. Such tax shall be in addition to any limits set forth in Sections 27-39-301 through 27-39-311, and shall not be included in the ten percent (10%) limitation on increases under Section 27-39-321, nor shall any tax increase exceed one-half (1/2) mill per year; however, if any levy to pay debt service on bonds issued under Section 31-25-21 as described in subsection (2) of this section is reduced for any year as a result of payment of the bonds or otherwise, the levy under this subsection (1) for such year may be increased by an amount, in addition to the one-half (1/2) mill otherwise authorized, not to exceed the reduction for such year in the millage levied to pay debt service on the bonds.

(3) In addition, all gifts and donations made by any persons or corporations or by other appropriate levy, and all funds which the municipality may receive from insurance companies as provided for in this article shall be placed in said fund.

(4) In addition, such municipality shall each month deduct from the salary of each member of the disability and relief fund for firemen and policemen not less than seven percent (7%) nor more than ten percent (10%) of the amount thereof and put the amount deducted into said fund. Any increase to an amount in excess of seven percent (7%) shall be in increments of not more than one percent (1%) per annum. No increase from the deduction of seven percent (7%) shall be made unless the board determines that the avails of the tax levy of three (3) mills, when combined with the avails of the deduction of seven percent (7%), is insufficient to keep the system actuarially sound.

(5) The Board of Trustees of the Public Employees' Retirement System, when any municipality has enacted an enabling ordinance as provided in Sections 21-29-5 and 21-29-101, upon a finding that either the municipal employees' retirement system or the disability and relief fund for firemen and policemen is not funded in an actuarially sound manner which is spread upon the minutes of the board, may by order provide that the revenue or a portion thereof produced by the levy authorized for one system be diverted to fund the less actuarially sound system within the same municipality. No transfer may be made of funds from one municipality to another.

(6) The municipality and the Board of Trustees of the Public Employees' Retirement System may enter into such contracts and agreements as are deemed necessary to implement the provisions of this section, including, but not limited to, contracts and agreements addressing the use, application and investment of proceeds of bonds issued under Section 31-25-21 and earnings thereon and the relative rights and obligations of the municipality and the Public Employees' Retirement System during the period that the bonds are outstanding and thereafter.

SECTION 3. Section 21-29-219, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

21-29-219. (1) The Disability and Relief Fund for Firemen and Policemen shall be created and, except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) of this section, maintained by an ad valorem tax levied annually on all property in the municipality, provided the election called for in Section 21-29-203 has authorized the creation of the fund. The levy made, and the deductions from the salaries of members, shall be in an amount sufficient, but not more than the amount necessary, to make the system actuarially sound by July 1, 2000, as certified to the municipality by the board. Such tax shall not be included in the ten percent (10%) limitation on increases under Section 27-39-321, nor shall any tax increase exceed one-half (1/2) mill per year; however, if any levy to pay debt service on bonds issued under Section 31-25-21 as described in subsection (2) of this section is reduced for any year as a result of payment of the bonds or otherwise, the levy under this subsection (1) for such year may be increased by an amount, in addition to the one-half (1/2) mill otherwise authorized, not to exceed the reduction for such year in the millage levied to pay debt service on the bonds.

(3) The fund may be created and maintained by such gifts, donations and bequests as may be made to the fund by any person or corporation, by any appropriation or tax levy, or both, of the municipality, by such sum or sums as the municipality may receive from insurance companies for the benefit of the fund, and by the deduction by the municipality from the salary of each member of the Disability and Relief Fund for Firemen and Policemen of not less than seven percent (7%) nor more than ten percent (10%) of the amount thereof. Any increase to an amount in excess of seven percent (7%) shall be in increments of not more than one percent (1%) per annum. No increase from the deduction of seven percent (7%) shall be made unless the board determines that the avails of the tax levy of three (3) mills, when combined with the avails of the deduction of seven percent (7%), is insufficient to keep the system actuarially sound.

(4) The municipality and the Board of Trustees of the Public Employees' Retirement System may enter into such contracts and agreements as are deemed necessary to implement the provisions of this section, including, but not limited to, contracts and agreements addressing the use, application and investment of proceeds of bonds issued under Section 31-25-21 and earnings thereon and the relative rights and obligations of the municipality and the Public Employees' Retirement System during the period that the bonds are outstanding and thereafter.

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1997.