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The minimum required contribution is calculated by the officers of the relief association <br />during the month of July for the following years To calculate the minimum required <br />municipal contribution, the officers need to know the special fund's financial <br />requirements for the following year. In July, the officers calculate the financial <br />requirements for the following year and the overall funding balance for the current <br />calendar year. <br />If the special fund is not fully funded, the financial requirements for the following <br />calendar year are determined by taking into account 1) the total accrued liability for all <br />active and deferred members of the relief association, calculated for the following <br />calendar year; 2) the increase in the total accrued liability for the following calendar year <br />over the present calendar year; 3) the amount of anticipated future administrative <br />expenses; and 4) one-tenth of the deficit resulting from either an increase in the service <br />pension or an investment loss occurring over the last ten years. The deficit can be <br />amortized over ten years. <br />If the special fund is fully funded, the financial requirements for the following calendar <br />year are the total of I) the increase in the total accrued liability for all members for the <br />following calendar year over the present calendar year; and 2) the amount of anticipated <br />future administrative expenses. <br />Monthly Service Pension Plans <br />For monthly service pension plans, the financial requirements of the special fund are <br />based on the most recent actuarial valuation. For most plans, the Governmental <br />Accounting Standards Board (GASB) requires an actuarial valuation every two years.b <br />In addition, a new actuarial valuation is required whenever there is a benefit change. If <br />the plan is in deficit, the deficit is amortized over twenty years and will be included in the <br />annual municipal contribution. <br />Defined Contribution Plans <br />For defined contribution plans, the individual volunteer firefighter experiences the gains <br />and the losses. The municipality has no obligation to make contributions to offset losses <br />if they occur, although it can make a voluntary contribution to the special fund if it <br />chooses. <br />Benefit Levels <br />The level of benefits paid by a volunteer firefighter pension plan is usually set by <br />agreement between the relief association and the municipality. Benefit level changes <br />s The Schedule Form, provided by the Office of the State Auditor, calculates the amount of any required <br />municipal contribution for the following year. For example, the 2008 Schedule Form will calculate the <br />required municipal contribution amount for the year 2009. <br />e See Minn. Stat. § 69.051, subd. 1 (financial statements in conformance with generally accepted <br />accounting principles); GASB Statement 25, para. 35 (biennial actuarial valuations required for financial <br />reporting purposes). <br />Minn. Stat. § 69.773, subd 4 (d). <br />Reviewed: January 2009 2 2009-2001 <br />Revised: NA <br />