Brooksville City Council Votes to Terminate Firefighters’ Pension Fund, $5M Payout

The Brooksville City Council voted 4-1 Jan. 26 to terminate the City of Brooksville Firefighters’ Retirement Trust Fund, with J.W. McKethan casting the lone dissent and retired firefighters pressing the council during lengthy public comment. The action follows the September consolidation of the City of Brooksville Fire Department into Hernando County Fire Rescue and sets in motion a legal and administrative process to end the city’s participation in the pension plan.

The council approved the measure after a prior first reading that passed 4-0 when McKethan was absent; a Feb. 17, 2026 city update confirmed the council was implementing earlier decisions related to the consolidation. The termination is embodied in ORDINANCE NO. 1010, which, in part, revokes the city’s participation and premium tax under Chapter 175, Florida Statutes, and assigns implementation responsibilities to the Trust Fund Board of Trustees and city staff.

Financial implications remain unsettled. Suncoastnews reported that Donlan estimated continuing the pension would cost about 19 percent of payroll, roughly $200,000 annually. Both Suncoastnews and Hernando Sun cited a $3.7 million figure; Suncoastnews said closing the plan could cost $3.7 million if everyone chose annuities, while Hernando Sun attributed to Louis Hallal an estimate that the city’s portion to bring the fund to 100 percent funding is $3.7 million. Council and staff repeatedly warned that final costs cannot be determined until the council and members decide distribution mechanics and elections.

Retirees and former fire personnel filled the Jan. 26 meeting with objections and pleas. Suncoastnews characterized the scene as “moving forward despite passionate pleas from retired firefighters who said they haven’t been given enough information about how the change will affect them.” James Atkins, a former Brooksville fire chief who served 25 years and 13 as chief, told council members: “I just hope that my retirement benefit will not decrease or go away. Because I worked for the City and expected to have a good retirement as I was promised at that time.”

Legal and administrative contingencies were raised during the meeting. An attorney participating remotely said “the final resolution from FRS is pending the city's decision.” City Manager Lisa Hendrickson urged members to seek professional guidance and explained available outreach: “Each member has the opportunity to speak with the pension plan actuary. In addition to that, they are encouraged to discuss their personal finance situation with a financial planner. They need expert advice on these very important decisions. And I think through the Pension Board of Trustees, they can employ the actuary to help provide the one on one information that’s needed.” Hendrickson was also paraphrased as warning that members who do not decide within FRS’s allotted time may default to the investment plan.

City materials accompanying ORDINANCE NO. 1010 also reference a related proposed amendment to create a Section 31 supplemental benefit plan to align with the collective bargaining agreement with Brooksville Professional Fire Fighters Local #466. Social-media chatter has circulated an unverified Instagram claim of a one-time payout estimated at $5 million; that $5 million figure does not appear in the city or actuarial excerpts provided and remains uncorroborated.

With the vote complete, responsibility shifts to the Trust Fund Board of Trustees and city staff to finalize implementation steps, notify affected retirees and vested members, and work with the plan actuary to produce concrete cost and distribution figures; council members signaled conflicting duties to honor firefighters’ service while maintaining fiscal responsibility to Brooksville taxpayers.