In February 2026, the commission approved the amended ordinance by a 4-0 vote, finalizing the expansion of the 55/25 retirement option to all city employees.
Historical recordCorneliaarchived · approved
Cornelia commission approves pension plan expansion to all city employees
The change lets all city employees, not just police and fire, retire at 55 with 25 years of service, a benefit the city budgeted at $64,000 to add.
Latest
February 10, 2026: Ordinance amending GMEBS Defined Benefit Retirement Plan
At a glance
What this means now
The story
In October 2025, the Cornelia City Commission discussed a GMA study on extending the city's 55/25 retirement option, previously limited to public safety employees, to all city employees. The study put the cost at $60,400 per year for the next 10 years.
At the same meeting, the commission approved the city's 2026 budget, which included $64,000 for amending the pension plan to let all employees retire at 55 with 25 years of service.
In January 2026, the commission voted 4-0 to post an ordinance amending the GMEBS defined benefit retirement plan for public comment.
In February 2026, the commission approved the amended ordinance by a 4-0 vote, finalizing the expansion of the 55/25 retirement option to all city employees.
What happened
How this issue got here
Open any step for its supporting record. A proposal remains labeled as proposed until later evidence establishes an outcome.
Appeared on agendaproposedOrdinance amending the GMEBS Defined Benefit Retirement Plan to allow all employees retirement at age 55 with 25 years of service
Commissioner Bagwell made a motion to approve the amended Ordinance,
seconded by Commissioner Griggs.
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Ordinance amending the GMEBS Defined Benefit Retirement Plan to allow all employees retirement at age 55 with 25 years of service
Commissioner Bagwell made a motion to approve the amended Ordinance, seconded by Commissioner Griggs.
ApprovedconfirmedOrdinance amending GMEBS Defined Benefit Retirement Plan
Ordinance Amending GMEBS Defined Benefit Retirement Plan
Tab C Approved 4 - 0
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Ordinance amending GMEBS Defined Benefit Retirement Plan
Ordinance Amending GMEBS Defined Benefit Retirement Plan Tab C Approved 4 - 0
Appeared on agendaproposedOrdinance amending the GMEBS Defined Benefit Retirement Plan
Ordinance Amending GMEBS Defined Benefit Retirement Plan
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Ordinance amending the GMEBS Defined Benefit Retirement Plan
Ordinance Amending GMEBS Defined Benefit Retirement Plan
ApprovedconfirmedOrdinance to Amend the GMEBS Defined Benefit Retirement Plan
Ordinance to Amend the GMEBS Defined Benefit Retirement Plan Approved
Unanimously to Post Ordinance
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Ordinance to Amend the GMEBS Defined Benefit Retirement Plan
Ordinance to Amend the GMEBS Defined Benefit Retirement Plan Approved Unanimously to Post Ordinance
ApprovedconfirmedOrdinance to amend the GMEBS defined benefit retirement plan (age 55 with 25 years of service for all employees), posted for public comment
Commissioner Bagwell made a motion to
post the ordinance for Public Comment, seconded by Commissioner Reed.
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Ordinance to amend the GMEBS defined benefit retirement plan (age 55 with 25 years of service for all employees), posted for public comment
Commissioner Bagwell made a motion to post the ordinance for Public Comment, seconded by Commissioner Reed.
Appeared on agendaproposedOrdinance to amend the GMEBS defined benefit retirement plan
Ordinance to Amend the GMEBS Defined Benefit Retirement Plan
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Ordinance to amend the GMEBS defined benefit retirement plan
Ordinance to Amend the GMEBS Defined Benefit Retirement Plan
DiscusseddiscussedGMA study on expanding 55/25 retirement plan from Public Safety to all city employees
The cost would be $60,400 per year for the next 10 years.
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GMA study on expanding 55/25 retirement plan from Public Safety to all city employees
The cost would be $60,400 per year for the next 10 years.
ApprovedunknownPension plan amendment allowing all employees to retire at 55 with 25 years of service
We have included $64,000 which is the cost to amend our pension plan to allow all employees the option to retire at 55 with 25 years of service.
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Pension plan amendment allowing all employees to retire at 55 with 25 years of service
We have included $64,000 which is the cost to amend our pension plan to allow all employees the option to retire at 55 with 25 years of service.
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