Click the hyperlinks above to contact an insurance or financial services representative directly.
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In This Issue:
- In Case You Missed It: FLC Board Appoints Executive Director-Designate
- FMLC Helps Bradenton Fund Municipal Parking Garage
- When Disaster Strikes, Prepare for the Financial Impact
- North Lauderdale Recognized for Workplace Health
- HSAs: The Retirement Accounts of the Future?
- Include Retirement Administrators in Benefits Meetings
- 10 Principles of Behavior-Based Safety
- Cities Invest in Healthy Items for Vending Machines
- Dangers of High Temperatures and Solutions for Workers
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In Case You Missed It: FLC Board Appoints Executive Director-Designate
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After 45 years of service to the Florida League of Cities and more than 20 as executive director,
Mike Sittig is preparing for retirement in the future. In a proactive manner, the Board of Directors began a process for this transition five years ago. Sittig plans to retire in 2020, and on September 22, 2018, the board took its final step of formal succession planning. The board unanimously appointed
Jeannie Garner as executive director-designate, effective October 1.
Garner is a 24-year League veteran who currently serves as deputy executive director. She brings over 18 years of extensive hands-on experience in executive level management, serving as senior director of the League’s insurance and financial services programs. Garner also served as executive director of the Florida Government Finance Officers Association for 17 years before stepping down to serve as the League’s deputy executive director in 2016.
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FMLC Helps Bradenton Fund Municipal Parking Garage
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The Florida Municipal Loan Council recently announced the closing of its 27th series of fixed-rate bonds in which it issued $7.595 million of bonds. Using the FMLC’s bond pool program, the Series 2018A bonds were issued on behalf of the City of Bradenton to finance the construction of a public parking garage.
Balancing the budget and ensuring funding for municipal programs and services is a challenge for cities of all sizes. With that challenge in mind, the FMLC was created to give local governmental entities the ability to finance or refinance projects on a cooperative and cost-effective basis. The program offers many advantages including a team of professionals, longer amortization schedules, lower costs of issuance and ongoing bond administration services, including continuing disclosure, investing of loan proceeds, member statements and arbitrage rebate calculations.
The FMLC offers a fixed-rate bond program with a minimum loan size of $1 million and terms of repayment of up to 30 years. The proceeds from this program can be used for a variety of purposes including capital improvements, renovations, fixed asset additions or refinancing of existing debt. The FMLC has issued more than $1 billion in bonds to 58 municipalities since 1998. For more information, visit
floridaleagueofcities.com/financial-services/loans or contact
Molly Button.
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When Disaster Strikes,
Prepare for the Financial Impact
by Tony Scott
Natural disasters such as tropical storms, hurricanes and severe storm events carry devastating winds and torrential rains. If not prepared correctly, municipalities might face millions of dollars in unfunded losses, emptying already low coffers and straining already stretched operating resources.
Disaster funding is an often overlooked subject due to the relative scarcity of large loss events throughout the state over time, so when a catastrophic event occurs, many municipalities may be unprepared for the financial consequences of these events.
It is critical that municipalities incorporate disaster response funding in their continuity of operations and/or emergency response plans. Proper planning can significantly reduce the impact that these rare, but potentially devastating, events have on their operating resources and community. For more information, click
here.
Tony Scott is the chief technology officer and principal at SynergyID, LLC and SynergyNDS, Inc., FMIT Turnkey Recovery Program managers.
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North Lauderdale Recognized for Workplace Health
North Lauderdale recently was recognized by the American Heart Association for taking important steps to build a culture of health in the workplace. The recognition came through the American Heart Association 2018 Workplace Health Achievement Index. North Lauderdale received bronze recognition.
The index uses science-based best practices to evaluate workplace health programs as well as the overall heart health of employees. Organizations receive benchmarking reports, which allow them to identify potential areas of improvement so that they can advance their annual performance. North Lauderdale receives health coverage through the Florida Municipal Insurance Trust. For more information about the FMIT, click
here.
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HSAs: The Retirement Accounts of the Future?
by Rodney Walton
Health Savings Accounts or HSAs have continued to grow in popularity as they are increasingly understood by employees.
The largest inflationary expense for a retiree is healthcare. HSAs, unlike flexible spending accounts, let you roll your money over year after year so you do not lose what you put in. The money will usually grow quickly in a participant’s account because employers will also fund the account with their money. These accounts are triple tax-exempt, meaning you lower your taxable income when you contribute money into the HSA, the money grows tax-free and the money isn’t taxed when coming out if used for healthcare-related expenses. You could use HSA money for Medicare premiums in retirement. An HSA usually offers better tax savings than your retirement account does!
HSA money can be invested in investment vehicles similar to retirement accounts, which causes them to grow even more. For more information, click
here. HSAs could be considered retirement accounts of the future!
Rodney Walton is a financial services account executive for the Florida League of Cities.
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Include Retirement Administrators in Benefits Meetings
As the end of the year approaches, most human resources personnel are busy putting together open enrollment and benefits meetings for employees. One important part of employees’ benefits packages is their retirement plan.
Be sure to invite your retirement services administrators to your open enrollment meetings, and give them the opportunity to speak to employees about their retirement plan. The retirement plan administrator should provide a brief overview of the retirement benefits offered and how those benefits will help each employee be able to retire. Many employees might hear this information only once as newly hired employees, and they might appreciate a regular reminder. Being on-site also allows your retirement plan administrator to meet with employees individually to answer their questions and review their investments.
The Florida Municipal Pension Trust Fund is a retirement services provider for defined benefit plans, 401(a) defined contribution plans and 457(b) deferred compensation plans. Contact
Jeremy Button at (850) 701-3625 to learn more about the retirement services of the FMPTF and to see how we can provide the on-site customer service experience that helps employees become confident in their retirement plans.
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10 Principles of Behavior-Based Safety
by Chaz Smith
Behavior-Based Safety is a safety management system that specifies exactly which behaviors are geared toward a safer work environment that are required from each employee. The safety management system must have controls in place that will measure whether these behaviors exist as a routine element in the work environment.
Acceptable behaviors must be positively reinforced frequently and immediately as the behavior occurs. Unsafe behavior triggers accidents and injury, resulting in productivity loss, workers compensation claims and the need for an immediate correction in the behavior. For 10 principles that can be found in an effective safety management system, click
here.
Chaz Smith is a risk and safety consultant for the Florida League of Cities.
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Cities Invest in Healthy Items
for Vending Machines
Vending machines in city worksites and on city-owned properties traditionally have offered drinks and snacks with high calories, added sugar and high levels of sodium. However, cities are beginning to establish vending and procedure policies that are based on sound nutritional standards from national organizations.
“Workplaces are continuously looking for ways to create an environment where making the healthy choice is the easy choice,” said
Gwen Mahabir, MS, CHES,
Hometown Health manager at the
Florida League of Cities. “Snack choices at work can directly affect an employee’s energy levels, how they feel and their overall health. Over time this can make either a positive or negative impact on productivity/job performance.” A healthier workforce also can help reduce illness-related absenteeism.
Offering healthy food options at city workplaces also can help battle obesity. In turn, healthier employees can translate into lower healthcare spending. For more information, click
here.
Joy Dickinson is an assistant editor at the Florida League of Cities. For more information about the health initiatives offered through the FMIT group health insurance program, contact
Gwen Mahabir
, Hometown Health manager for the Florida League of Cities.
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Dangers of High Temperatures and Solutions for Workers
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by Vernell K. Goodridge
Florida is known for beaches, sun and fun. For those who work in the heat on a regular basis, however, this environment can be a health hazard. Employers must have protocols and procedures to protect their workforce and address heat-related illnesses.
The U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics says exposure to environmental heat caused 37 work-related deaths and 2,830 nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses in 2015. These injuries and illnesses caused many days away from work and lost productivity.
Are you doing everything possible to protect your employees? Are you being proactive with training and education? Click
here to read an article by the Workers’ Compensation Institute that gives accounts from actual workers working in extreme heat. It offers technological solutions through OSHA and the CDC to keep workers safe.
Vernell K. Goodridge is the workers’ compensation claims manager for the Florida League of Cities.
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Links for Further Reading
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