On Thursday, the Pennsylvania Auditor General announced that first responders and municipal workers statewide are getting more funding towards their pension plans.
Auditor General Eugene DePasquale released nearly $300 million to support the retirement plans for firefighters, police officers, and municipal workers in the state.
“It is a critical piece to looking out for our cops and firefighters and the people that clean up our parks and fix our local roads. it is a critical piece of looking our for those dedicated public servants,” DePasquale said.
He added if the money wasn’t available, the retirement of a lot of these people would be in jeopardy.
“This funding is about looking out for those that defend us everyday: the cops, the firefighters, and other municipal employees that are looking out for our parks, the people that are fixing our local roads. This money is in a sense, looking out for them,” DePasquale said.
Just last month, DePasquale gave more than $55 million to the Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Association.
He said it’s important to support those people working to keep our communities safe and functional.
The pension aid comes from a two percent state tax on premiums paid to out-of-state insurance companies.