Salem Firefighters Local 314 v. Public Employes Retirement Board

Since 1973, police officers and firefighters employed by local governments have been entitled to retirement benefits under the state Public Employes’ Retirement System (PERS), unless their public employer “provides retirement benefits to its police officers and firemen which are equal to or better than the benefits which would be provided to them under the system, as determined at the expense of the public employer by the Public Employes’ Retirement Board.” ORS 237.620(4). The question before us is whether the Board (PERB) misinterpreted the words “public employer provides retirement benefits…