Pender County Commissioners hear update on EMS merger, changes to retirement system

BURGAW, NC (WWAY) — In Pender County, the upcoming EMS merger to consolidate emergency medical services and fire protection under county operation could affect some workers’ retirement benefits.

Gregory Grayson, a representative with North Carolina Fire Chiefs Consulting, presented an update to county commissioners on Tuesday night.

He said they’re working with the various departments that will be brought under county controlm though he added that some tasks won’t be done until after the merger date.

When asked what retirement system would be used, county strategic director Sarah Fulton explained that any employees coming over, as part of the merger, would be considered new employees in the local government retirement system.

But Commissioner Jimmy Tate raised concerns over this.

“What I don’t want to see happen and I rush to move this so quickly, is that a person who has a long term of investing 30, 20 years or say or 15 years in Fire EMS, answering calls day and night,” Tate said. “Now that we are making this change so quickly, they lose all of their retirement. And now they have to start back over at zero.”

Fulton said the county will give those employees credit for their years of service before the merger, and they will be able to rollover their 401K’s

The merger date is set for July 1st.