Pittsburgh City Council on Wednesday postponed a vote on a pension enhancement for elected officials that appears to conflict with an ordinance members approved two years ago banning changes in pension payments outside of collective bargaining.
Council unanimously postponed the vote for a week.
Members on Tuesday fast-tracked an amendment to the city’s pension ordinance that would eliminate a so-called Social Security offset for elected officials, including nine City Council members, the mayor and city controller. The bill would benefit Councilwoman Darlene Harris of the North Side, who is retiring in January.
Council in 2017 amended the pension ordinance to prevent any pension enhancement outside of collective bargaining as part of Mayor Bill Peduto’s plan to exit state fiscal oversight known as Act 47.
“… The City shall make no enhancements to existing pension benefits, including retroactive benefits outside of the collective bargaining/arbitration process,” the provision reads.
City employees, with the exception of firefighters and police, are subject to the offset, which calls for a reduction in pension payments by 50% of the amount received from Social Security after an employee reaches maximum Social Security retirement age. The provision applies only to city employees hired after June 30, 2004.
Harris of Spring Hill, who lost her seat in the Democratic primary, turns 67 on Jan. 6, her last day in office. The offset would cost her about $700 per month in her monthly pension payout.
Peduto, who has been working for the city since 1996, is not subject to the offset.
