Council approves TCRS retirement resolution

9:12 p.m. Sept. 15, 2025

TCRS

DUANE CROSS
MCO Publisher•Editor

The Metro Council voted Monday, Sept. 15, to approve a resolution allowing county employees to participate in the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS), moving forward with a benefit long sought by some workers.

The resolution, which formalizes a vote taken last month, passed by a majority of the council. It extends retirement benefits to eligible county employees, including part-time workers with set schedules, mirroring the benefits already in place for the school system.

Council members discussed the impact of the change, including whether employees could choose between different contribution levels and whether the plan would require retroactive buy-ins for years of past service. Officials confirmed that, because the county previously established TCRS participation, it must now follow the same rules that were in effect at the time of establishment.

Several members raised questions about whether a 401(k) plan might be a better long-term option for new hires. Supporters, however, emphasized that offering TCRS is critical for recruiting and retaining employees, particularly those with experience in other counties who are already vested in the system.

Funding the retirement plan was a central concern. Council member Peggy Sue Blackburn questioned how the county would cover the cost, warning that taxpayers deserve a clear plan. Gerald Burnett acknowledged that future funding could require either a property tax or sales tax increase. Still, the consensus was that the retirement system is an essential investment in county employees.

Council Chair Amy Cashion noted that Monday’s vote was a formality, finalizing what was decided in August. “This is an opportunity to make it right for those other people that weren’t given that option years ago,” Sunny Rae Moorehead added, describing the resolution as a way to reward and retain dedicated public servants.

Despite a few dissenting votes – Peggy Sue Blackburn, Arvis Bobo, and Robert Bracewell – the resolution passed, 9-3, and will now be forwarded to the state for implementation.

Three Council members were absent: Marty Cashion, Jimmy Hammond, and Houston Lindsey.