Answers To The Most Frequently Asked Questions
Controller BureauWhere can I get a copy of the City’s most recent Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR)? The City’s CAFR is now available for viewing on this web site. If you would like a hard copy of the CAFR document from the most recent year, please e-mail Tina.Weston@norfolk.gov or fax (Accounting Manager – 757-664-4064) your request. Who can I contact regarding a past due invoice? Accounts Payable questions
should be directed to the A/P hotline at 664-4087.
Who can I contact regarding jury payments? Questions or inquiries regarding the status of jury payments should be directed to the Norfolk Sheriff’s Department at 757-664-4343 or 757-664-4906. Who can I call about my taxes? Questions about payment
of property taxes or city decals should be directed to the City
Treasurer 757-664-7800.
Debt ManagementWhat is an Official Statement? An Official Statement is a document published by the City that discloses key information regarding a new municipal bond issue. The information includes items such as the purpose of the issue, the structure and repayment of the debt, and the financial and economic characteristics of Norfolk. Investors may use this information to evaluate the credit quality of the bond, but the official statement should not be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any of the City’s bonds. How do I buy bonds that are issued by the City of Norfolk? The City does not sell bonds directly from City Hall. Typically, bonds issued by the City are sold through a competitive or negotiated sale process. In either case, the bonds are purchased by a bank or investment firm and then re-marketed (re-sold) to institutional investors and/or to private individuals. You would need to contact a local bank or investment firm to find out details of how to purchase the City’s bonds. Risk ManagementRisk management pertains to the loss of the City's human, material, and monetary resources. The Risk Management office provides two key businesses focused on risk financing: (1) internal management consulting regarding insurance, risk analysis and risk financing alternatives; (2) administration for self-insured workers’ compensation and liability claims. Contact the City Attorney’s Office at:
How do I report or make a claim to the City for damages to my property? For damages due to conditions of public right-of-ways (i.e. streets/sidewalk/drainage lines) and sewer/utility lines, contact the City Attorney’s office at the address noted above. For other type damages, i.e. automobile accidents not involving public schools, contact the City Risk Management Office at:
How do I resolve a claim or insurance issue involving the Norfolk Public Schools? Norfolk Public Schools maintains a risk management function separate from the City. Contact that office at:
Who do I contact regarding Occupational Safety matters? The City’s occupational safety and industrial hygiene functions are administered by the Human Resources Department. Contact the City Safety office at:
Employees’ Retirement SystemWhat type of plan is the Norfolk Employees’ Retirement System? The Norfolk Employees’ Retirement System is a non-contributory defined benefit plan. Who pays for retirement benefits? The City currently pays 100% of the annual retirement contributions actuarially computed. Who authorizes retirement benefit provisions? The Norfolk City Council has the continuing right and power to amend current and future retirement benefits. Can I use my sick leave to qualify me for retirement? No. Sick leave is added on as retirement service credit. You get 100% of your sick leave days certified by your department added on as retirement service credit. It is calculated on a 22- day work month. (For Firefighters, it is calculated using a formula.) Who is responsible for the administration and management of the System? The general administration, management, and responsibility for the proper operations of the System are vested in the Board of Trustees. The Board consists of the City Manager, the Director of Finance, and seven (7) trustees appointed by the City Council. When are the monthly Retirement Board meetings? Generally, Retirement Board meetings are held every third Thursday of each month. What major factors are used to calculate my retirement allowance? Each member has a very personal stake in the Retirement System and your benefits will be based on your own particular situation. Most of the benefits offered by the System are based on your age, your years of credited service, average of your 36 highest months of salary (your average final compensation or AFC) and a benefit accrual rate. **AFC (times) creditable years of service (times) your group benefit accrual rate How much money will I make if I retire as of a certain date? When you are ready to terminate your employment with the City of Norfolk, we can calculate an estimate for you based on the average of your highest three years of salary, the number of years of service, and your particular accrual rate. Will my unused annual leave be added to my retirement benefit? No. You will receive a lump sum payment from the City for your unused annual leave; only unused sick leave is credited toward your retirement service credit. For General employees entering the Retirement System before 7/1/80: 2% of AFC capped at 35 years of service For General employees entering the Retirement System on or after 07/01/80: 1.75% of AFC capped at 35 years of service For Public Safety employees: 2.5% of AFC capped at 65% of average final compensation< Does the cap include sick leave? No. The cap applies to retirement accrual benefits only. What are the eligibility requirements for retirement?
What are the qualifications to apply for Ordinary Disability Retirement? An employee needs five (5) years of creditable service to apply for Ordinary Disability. An employee must also be certified disabled by our Medical Board then approved by the Retirement Board. What are the qualifications to apply for Accidental Disability Retirement? There are no service requirements for an employee to apply for Accidental Disability. The one prerequisite is that the injury must be compensable under the Workers’ Compensation Act. Therefore, before we take an application, the employee needs to be evaluated by Workers’ Compensation, and we need written verification from Disability Management regarding compensability. Does the City of Norfolk provide a death benefit after retirement? Yes. The City of Norfolk provides a Retirement Death Benefit at no charge to the retiree. The benefit is payable to the surviving spouse; if there is no surviving spouse, it is payable to unmarried children under age 18, or unmarried children over age 18 who are physically or mentally (at birth) unable to make a living. It is equal to one-half of the average final compensation in a single lump sum payment. Currently, the spouse may elect to receive, instead of the lump sum payment, a continuing monthly benefit payable until death or remarriage. If I die while in active service, is there a death benefit payable? Yes. The Ordinary Death Benefit is payable to the named beneficiary. Basically, the benefit is equal to one-half of your last year’s earnable compensation in a lump sum payment. When changing beneficiaries, please complete a Change of Beneficiary form for the Retirement Office as well as for the Department of Human Resources. Access the PDF file for change of beneficiary form. Change_of_Beneficiary_Form_A Does the City of Norfolk have a mandatory retirement age? Yes. Any member in service who has attained age sixty-two (62), who is a Police Officer or Firefighter, shall be retired by the Board on a service retirement. When should I submit my application for retirement? The Retirement Office can have your application on file for no more than 90 days and no less than 30 days in advance. Also, retirements are generally effective the first day of the month. Where is the Retirement Office located? The Norfolk Employees’
Retirement System is located on the third floor of the City Hall
Building in room 309. The office hours are from 8 a. m. to 5 p.
m. Members visiting the retirement office should call for an appointment
to alleviate service delays. The telephone number is (757) 664-4738.
Generally, pension portability means the ability of workers to take their pensions with them when they leave an employer. For additional information please click on the following PDF - Portability_of_Retirement_Benefits.pdf No, the System does not permit borrowing against any retirement funds. What happens if I return to work after retiring? If you retire from the City of Norfolk on normal or early retirement and return to City employment in a position in which you are eligible to again enter the Retirement System (Permanent, Permanent Part-time, etc.), your retirement check will stop until you leave City employment. Once you stop working, you will receive retirement benefits for the second period of service, as well as resuming your original retirement benefit. Can I receive my retirement allowance through direct deposit? Yes. Direct Deposit is the convenient, reliable way to get paid. We encourage you to take advantage of this service. With automatic direct deposit, your money is ready and waiting for you on payday. Is my retirement allowance taxable? Yes. Retirement benefits are generally subject to federal and state income taxes. You can have federal and state taxes withheld from your benefit through payroll deduction by completing Federal and State Income Tax Withholding Forms. Will I receive a tax form at the end of the year to file my taxes? Yes. We will mail you a 1099-R tax form before the last working day of January of the following year. Also, you will receive a separate form for your contributions and interest. If you retired after January 1st of the year, you will also receive a W-2 form from the City for wages earned. What type of personal information should I continually report to the Retirement System? Change of Address If you have changed your residence since becoming a member of the Employees' Retirement System, be sure to provide the staff of the Retirement System with your new address by completing a Retirement System Change of Address Form. Change_of_Address_Form Change of Beneficiary If the beneficiary named by you to receive the ordinary death benefit is deceased, or if there is some other reason for changing your nominated beneficiary, file with the Retirement System the name of your new beneficiary without delay. Change_of_Beneficiary_Form_A Change of Marital Status Please submit marital status documentation and keep the System apprised of any marital status changes. Why do I have to submit a copy of my birth certificate? Age is one of the major factors used to qualify you for retirement. Benefits are not paid until this information has been verified. If you have not yet presented your birth certificate to the staff of the Retirement Office, please do so without delay. When will my retirement checks be mailed out? Retirement checks are mailed out the last working day of the month.
With automatic direct deposit, your benefit payment is in your account when your financial institution opens for
business on the last business of the month.
Does the Retirement System automatically register me for Medicare?< No. Active and retired employees of the City of Norfolk, who have attained age 65 or are approaching that age, should register without delay for MEDICARE at the Social Security office in the area of their residence. Can the Retirement System assist me with my health insurance, VRS Life Insurance, or ICMA questions? No.
Please access the following links for benefit and ICMA questions: |
