Current Departments
Fire Chief and Governing Body Responsibilities
PERA communicates with two designated contacts about the Statewide Volunteer Firefighter (SVF) Plan:
- fire chief
- governing body representative
- This must be an employee of the governing body, such as: clerk, treasurer, or finance director. This person may not be a firefighter.
PERA recommends that other interested parties coordinate with one of the designated representatives to address any questions. This helps to maintain PERA’s SVF plan administration as a cost-efficient program, avoids duplicate inquires and conserves program resources.
Fire Chief Responsibilities
File Annual Certification
Certify volunteer firefighter service credit annually
Communicate with PERA
Contact PERASVF@mnpera.org regarding any service credit, enrollment, or department related questions.
Governing Body Responsibilities
Set Benefit Level
Select the appropriate benefit level per year of service. For more information on choosing an SVF Plan benefit level, (add links to the benefit level webinar, handout, and presentations slides
Apply for Fire State Aid Annually
PERA receives the state aid payment and deposits it into the department’s SVF plan account with the Minnesota State Board of Investment (SBI).
Pay Required Contributions
Required contributions must be paid only if the projected annual fire state aid + assumed 6% rate of return investment earnings equal less than the projected annual financial requirement (i.e. the annual cost of participating in the SVF Plan). PERA will invoice the Governing Body if required contributions are due.
Communicate with PERA
Contact PERASVF@mnpera.org regarding any service credit, enrollment, or department related questions.
Fire Chief & Governing Body Dual Responsibilities
Update Contact Information
Email PERASVF@mnpera.org when there is a change in Fire Chief or Governing Body Representative. Include: name, job title, email address, phone number, and mailing address.
Provide SVF Plan Information to Volunteer Firefighters
PERA communicates SVF Plan information only to the fire chief and governing body representative. It is important for these SVF Plan contacts to keep department volunteer firefighters informed. These contacts may share information with others according to the data practices and policies of the applicable governing body.