Former Scituate Deputy Police Chief Accused of Double Dipping
Thursday, February 09, 2012
The Scituate Pension Committee will meet Thursday to discuss whether a current town employee is eligible for a pension awarded while he served on the town’s police force.
In 2011, Robert Tucker received a $44,455.56 pension for his time spent as deputy chief of police in addition to a $58,429.26 salary for his role as deputy of public works even though the town’s private police pension plan bars recipients from working a full-time job.
“The situation has been called to our attention and the solicitor is reviewing it,” said Town Council Member William Hurry.
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Pension Plan Just 27.5 Percent Funded
The questions over Tucker’s pension come as Scituate’s pension system faces an unfunded liability of approximately $8 million. The plan is currently only 27.5 percent funded, making it one of the worst-funded plans in all of Rhode Island. In fiscal year 2010, the town made just 67 percent of its annual required contribution to the pension system.
Governor Chafee has called for legislation to be enacted that would give cities and towns the tools to address local pensions the same way the state did last November. Chafee has called the struggles of various municipalities “a crisis” that must be addressed.
“In the five years prior to my taking office, state aid to cities and towns was cut by $192 million,” Chaee said during his State of the State address last week. “This has been an unbearable burden for the distressed communities, where state aid was reduced by 17%. No councilperson or Mayor wants to raise property taxes, but despite their best efforts, the tax levy in our distressed communities rose 16% during those years. 17% cuts in aid, 16% increase in property taxes, in communities that can least afford them. Over the past several weeks, you have passed, and I have signed into law, legislation that enabled Pawtucket and East Providence to borrow just to meet payroll.”
Accountability and Transparency
Carol Anne Costa, the chairman of Scituate Democratic Town Committee, said the town needs to be more transparent with taxpayers.
"The situation emerging in Scituate is troubling at the least and demonstrates when pension plans are left to local political control, fiduciary duties and taxpayers interests take a back seat to locally forged alliances,” Costa said. “Accountability and transparency are vital to the process and in Scituate, we have neither."
In an op-ed sent out this week, Costa said the town’s pension problems have become severe.
“The bottom line is frankly the bottom line,” she wrote. “The plan is paying out more than it is taking in on a monthly basis. This plan is unsustainable and does a great disservice to its members. The town cannot afford to remain on this path. The numbers simply do not work. Many citizens of the town have asked these questions at financial town meetings and public meetings and been assured all is well. The town treasurer has stated that he plans to divert savings from the town’s bond debt to the pension fund as bonded debt decreases. “
Editor's Note: The original version of this story included an incorrect first name for the Robert Tucker.
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