Huntington Beach Firefighters Sue Over Pension Rules

Huntington Beach firefighters have filed suit against the city, claiming they are being unfairly deprived of the ability to increase their pensions through a so-called “rollover” benefit.

The Huntington Beach Firefighters Assn. contends the city has changed the rules midstream governing how its members can convert benefits into pay, said Fire Captain William Ogden, the association’s president. He said firefighters negotiated over the years for the conversion benefit in lieu of pay raises.

“We’re concerned that we’ve been working for something that we’re not getting,” Ogden said. “We’re hoping to gain the ability to continue to have that benefit that we negotiated for, or be compensated for it.”

The lawsuit was filed Wednesday in Santa Ana Superior Court.

A state law that went into effect in 1994 clamped down on “spiking” or conversion of benefits to boost salary during the year in which an employee’s pension is based. Cities have wrestled with how to pay for spiking that previously had been allowed.

Huntington Beach Mayor Dave Sullivan said Friday that the city has been following a state interpretation of guidelines for pension conversions. He said he is deeply concerned about the financial impact such conversions might have on the city.