Structure of the CO-VSF

The CO-VSF Board has five trustees, the NYCERS chair(one vote), the Comptroller (one vote), the Finance Commissioner (one vote), the head of COBA (one & half votes) and the head of the Correction Captains union (half vote). By statute the NYCERS actuary is the actuary for the Co-VSF. I am not sure when the CO-VSF Board last met. This board along with the actuary should be publicly informing the CO-VSF retirees what is happening with the 2016 payments and providing them with supporting documentation. With modern technology this is an easy lift.

CO-VSF is required to publish a financial statement every year in the City Record - NYC Admin Code - § 13-194.7

7. The variable supplements board shall publish annually in the City Record a report for the preceding year showing the assets of the correction officers' variable supplements fund and a statement as to the accumulated cash and securities of such fund as certified by the comptroller, and shall set forth in such report such other facts, recommendations and data as the board may deem pertinent.

NYS DFS has issued only one audit of the CO-VSF system.

The following text is from that audit:

A. History

Chapter 657 of the Laws of 1999 established the Correction Officers Variable Supplements Fund (“COVSF” or the “Fund”) and the Correction Captains’ and Above Variable Supplements Fund (“CCAVSF”). Chapter 255 of the Laws of 2000 (“Chapter 255/00”) combined the COVSF and the CCAVSF into one amended fund (Correction Officers Variable Supplements Fund) effective December 29, 1999.

The Fund operates pursuant to the provisions of Title 13, Chapter 1 of the Administrative Code of the City of New York (“ACNY”). It provides supplemental benefits to members of the Uniformed Correction Force (“UCF”) that retire on or after July 1, 1999, with 20/25 or more years of service from the New York City Employees’ Retirement System (“NYCERS”).

Under current law, the Fund is not to be construed as constituting a pension or retirement system. Instead, it provides supplemental payments, other than pension or retirement system allowances, in accordance with applicable statutory provisions. The New York State Legislature has reserved to itself and the State of New York the right and power to amend, modify, or repeal the Fund and the payment it provides.