Shop

State law enforcement employees have one of the most generous retirement packages in the nation. But local pension plans make the state look parsimonious by comparison. These retirement packages were about to get even better if a bill pending in the state legislature to increase public safety benefits had passed. The St. Petersburg Times examined four local pension plans, looking at how the pension money was invested, the lack of public oversight, insider dealing by trustees and the large number of abuses including one former firefighter retired on a stress disability who was lobbying lawmakers for increased benefits. (March 31 - April 2, April 7-9, May 20, June 16, July 17, August 21 and November 20, 1996)