BOROUGH OF SOMERVILLE

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2021 AND 2020

Note 7.
PENSION PLANS (CONT’D.)
A. Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) (Cont’d.)
2020
Normal Cost $ 23,732
Amortization of Accrued Liability 219,610
Total Pension 243,342
NCGI Premiums 13,112
Total Regular Billing 256,454
LTD Expense 903
Additional Billings:
Ch. 19, P.L. 2009 22,187
Total PERS Payment $ 279,544

Ch. 19, P.L. 2009 billings reflect the recoupment of the 50% deferral of normal and accrued liability costs due on April 1, 2009. The law set a fifteen-year repayment schedule for the deferred amount, with additional annual adjustments to reflect the return on investment of actuarial net assets of the plan on deferred principal balances.

The Borough recognizes liabilities to PERS and records expenditures for same in the fiscal period that bills become due.

The vesting and benefit provisions are set by N.J.S.A. 43:15A. PERS provides retirement, death and disability benefits. All benefits vest after ten years of service, except for medical benefits , which vest after 25 years of service or under the disability provisions of PERS.

The following represents the membership tiers for PERS:

Tier Definition
1 Members who were enrolled prior to July 1, 2007.
2 Members who were eligible to enroll on or after July 1, 2007 and prior to November 2, 2008
3 Members who were eligible on or after November 2, 2008 and prior to May 22, 2010
4 Members who were eligible to enroll on or after May 22, 2010 and prior to June 28, 2011
5 Members who were eligible to enroll on or after June 28, 2011

Service retirement benefits of 1/55th of final average salary for each year of service credit is available to tiers 1 and 2 members upon reaching age 60 and to tier 3 members upon reaching age 62. Service retirement benefits of 1/60th of final average salary for each year of service credit is available to tier 4 members upon reaching age 62 and tier 5 members upon reaching age 65. Early retirement benefits are available to tiers 1 and 2 members before reaching age 60, tiers 3 and 4 with 25 or more years of service credit before age 62, and tier 5 with 30 or more years of service credit before age 65. Benefits are reduced by a fraction of a percent for each month that a member retires prior to the age at which a member can receive full early retirement benefits in accordance with their respective tier. Tier 1 members can receive an unreduced benefit from age 55 to age 60 if they have at least 25 years of service. Deferred retirement is available to members who have at least 10 years of service credit and have not reached the service retirement age for the respective tier.