26-0211: Employees’ Retirement System – Art Museum Employees – Eligibility FOR the purpose of making certain employees of the Baltimore Museum of Art and the Walters Art Museum eligible for membership in the Employees’ Retirement System; requiring a certain actuarial study; and providing for the effective dates of this Ordinance.

Description

Employees’ Retirement System – Art Museum Employees – Eligibility FOR the purpose of making certain employees of the Baltimore Museum of Art and the Walters Art Museum eligible for membership in the Employees’ Retirement System; requiring a certain actuarial study; and providing for the effective dates of this Ordinance.

Summary

Baltimore City Council Bill 26-0211 would expand retirement eligibility for employees of the Baltimore Museum of Art and Walters Art Museum. As introduced, it would add museum employees to the City Employees’ Retirement System and require a study of prior-service credit, vesting for employees with at least 10 years of service, contribution rates, legal requirements, and funding. The study was due by March 1, 2027, but would not itself grant additional benefits. The Department of Finance opposed the bill, and the Law Department questioned whether reopening the closed Plan C complies with federal law. Later actuarial analysis considered placing 211 employees in open Class D plans, estimating annual employer costs of about $754,000 to $956,000, depending on plan elections. No committee vote occurred at the July 8, 2026 hearing.