Escambia County Clerk Pam Childers once again tried to spin the lawsuit over the commissioners’ pension plan that she saved the day by stopping the board from voting on a plan that would have made up for HR not explaining the 401a option to some commissioners and senior managers.
From PNJ: “As the clerk and comptroller, had I not said anything or raised the point of law, they would have voted themselves (more than) $250,000 in back pay,” Childers said.
Childers Fantasy
It didn’t happen. The Board discussed the proposal briefly and then asked the county attorney to get a legal opinion on whether it would be legal.
- Childers didn’t speak up until after the board made that decision and was about to adjourn.
From the transcript, Childers:
Before we close this item, I’d like to say a few things as the comptroller of this county and somebody that holds the checkbook. I have reservation in fulfilling a vote that you would have to back fund a pension.
When Commissioner Jeff Bergosh asked why she didn’t voice her opinion during the board’s discussion, Childers said:
I was going to speak first. I didn’t think it was proper for me to speak first to tell you that I am probably not going to be comfortable if you all vote to that fund-
Somehow this has been spun into Childers stopping it. The board made the decision to seek a legal opinion about the plan without any input from the clerk.
- Commissioners Barry and May later said they would not accept any backpay but wanted to see if it was possible for senior managers that had been misinformed.
Childers later questioned whether the entire 401a plan was legal. She disregarded the legal opinions the county received and refused to ask for an Attorney General’s opinion.
- She stopped making any contributions to the commissioners’ pension plan in January 2022 – which prompted the lawsuit.