Bethlehem-pa

AI Summary

Article 151 of the City of Bethlehem's ordinances establishes and governs the Firemen's Pension Fund, created under authority of the Third Class City Code. The fund charges paid Fire Department members 7% of their pay, plus an additional 1% to cover benefits for surviving spouses and children under age 18 of retired, killed, or deceased members. The City must annually appropriate to the fund no less than one-half of one percent of all City taxes levied (excluding debt service taxes), beginning in 1949 and continuing thereafter. The fund is invested and merged with joint funds under Article 156 of the City's ordinances, with annual appropriations made in accordance with Pennsylvania's Act 205 of 1984 (Municipal Pension Plan Funding Standard and Recovery Act). Membership in the fund is voluntary for all paid firemen employed in the Bureau of Fire.