Baltimore City Council advances bill making its members pension-eligible in 8 years instead of 12, faulting term-limit proposal

Arguing that its hands were tied by the likely implementation of term limits, the Baltimore City Council advanced a bill Monday reducing the number of years required for elected officials to receive a pension. The legislation, introduced by Council President Nick Mosby, calls for Baltimore to offer pensions to city officials after eight years of service. Currently, the requirement is 12. The council voted, 9-2, in favor of the bill that city retirement and finance officials warned could be costly for the city in years to come. Three members, Councilmen Mark Conway and Eric Costello and Councilwoman Phylicia Porter, abstained. Councilmen Zeke Cohen and Ryan Dorsey voted against the measure. The bill still faces one more vote from the council before it heads to the desk of Mayor Brandon Scott.