Retirement can be 5 years early

Costa Mesa firefighters won’t have to wait till age 55 to retire with full benefits.

They can now do so at age 50.

The City Council voted 3 to 1 last week to close the deal it had made with the firefighters’ union in August, which decreased the age of when firefighters can retire and get their full benefits.

On Tuesday night, Mayor Allan Mansoor cast the lone “no” vote, while Councilman Eric Bever, who had opposed the change in August, was absent.

The change is estimated to save the city $1.1 million a year net, said Bobby Young, Costa Mesa’s budget and research manager.

That’s because at least 12 firefighters are expected to retire once the new pension plan takes effect, Young said.

The negotiations between the Costa Mesa Firefighters Assn. also resulted in a reduction in the minimum workforce, from 96 to 84 firefighters.

But if the city replaces those who retire, that could undo those savings.

This is why Mansoor said he voted against it.

“This only saves us money in the long term if we don’t replace those firefighters,” he said. “If we replaced those firefighters, the savings is erased. it’s a short-term solution to saving money, unless you never replace the positions.”

The move marks a reversal of what many cities and counties throughout the state are hoping to achieve.

Many governmental agencies are trying to change their pension plans by increasing the age of when employees can retire in an effort to lower retirement costs.

For example, negotiations that were spearheaded by Orange County Supervisor John Moorlach and the Orange County’s Deputy Sheriffs’ Assn. resulted in an increase in the age for when deputies can retire with full benefits, from 50 to 55 years old.

Councilwoman Wendy Leece said that voting for the plan was difficult.

But she supported it because it would save the city’s residents some money, and, at this point, there are no plans to replace the retiring firefighters.

“I voted for this because it was part of our 10-point plan that saved $20 million,” she said. “I felt and still believe that Costa Mesa cannot become a battleground for a statewide problem that began in Sacramento. I’m here to keep the fire engine running on time.”