This correction moves qualifying time that was previously under "Miscellaneous" retirement into "Public Safety" retirement—often adding about a year (or more) of public-safety service credit and moving retirement eligibility sooner.
I applied this change to a group of MSA members—specifically several Sergeants and a Lieutenant—whose career timelines met the criteria. The result: their retro periods are being recognized as 8504, which will translate into earlier retirement eligibility and corrected SFERS service credit once the payroll true-up is complete.
Who qualifies (in plain language)
The agreement covers employees hired after January 8, 2012, and on or before June 30, 2019, who were in Class 8302 (Deputy Sheriff I) and then advanced to Class 8504 after successfully completing the Academy/probation. Status in 8504 is granted retroactively back to the day after Academy completion (or date of hire if POST had already been completed at hire).
That's the foundation I used to identify the affected Sergeants and the Lieutenant: we verified each person's hire date, Academy completion, and transition point into 8504, then mapped the retro window precisely.
What's changing and why it matters
- Retirement tier correction: Time that was tracked as "Miscellaneous" is now counted as "Public Safety" for the retro window—this is what can shift retirement eligibility earlier.
- Seniority unchanged: Your civil service seniority stays anchored to your original certification date in your former class; reclassification under this rule does not change it.
The timeline (2026)
- Payroll variance deductions (pre-tax) for active, affected employees: November 4, November 18, December 2, and December 16, 2026. These deductions true-up the difference between your employee pension contributions as 8302 versus 8504 for the retro period. The City estimates about $250–$300 per pay period.
- After the final deduction, SFERS will recalculate your service credit and mail you a summary within four months.
- HR/PeopleSoft will reflect the retroactive appointment to 8504; DHR will take the necessary steps consistent with the MOU.
How I executed this fix for the MSA group
- Case identification: Pulled rosters for Sergeants and the Lieutenant whose hire dates and Academy completion aligned with the eligibility window. Cross-checked with personnel files and training records against the 8302→8504 transition.
- Eligibility confirmation: Matched each case to the CSC 114.20 authority and the DSA–City agreement language to ensure clean eligibility.
- Payroll coordination: Flagged "active, affected" members so Controller's Office could schedule the four pre-tax variance deductions on the listed dates.
- SFERS sync: Ensured SFERS is queued to recalc service credit after the final deduction—so members receive the individual letter/summary within the four-month window.
- HR data hygiene: Coordinated with HR so PeopleSoft reflects "retro appointment to 8504" for the covered periods, preventing misfires in payroll eligibility and ensuring a clean audit trail.
What you should do now
- Mark the four payroll dates and review your pay stubs for the pre-tax variance deductions (only if you're active and affected).
- After the last deduction, watch for your SFERS letter—expect it within four months.
- Verify PeopleSoft shows the retro 8504 appointment once HR has finished the update.
FAQs for MSA members
Does this really help if I'm already a Sergeant or Lieutenant now?
Yes. The fix applies to the eligible retro window when you were moving from 8302 into 8504. That earlier period now counts correctly as public-safety time, which can accelerate retirement eligibility once SFERS finalizes the recalculation.
How big are the deductions and who pays them?
They're employee contribution differences only (pre-tax), estimated at $250–$300 per pay period, for active, affected employees, on the four specified 2026 pay runs.
Will this change my seniority list placement?
No. Seniority is not affected by this reclassification.
When should my SFERS service credit be updated?
Within four months after the final deduction is received by SFERS, you'll get a letter summarizing the changes.
What if I'm on leave or have insufficient earnings on one of those pay dates?
Payroll will coordinate adjustments on the next eligible check; if your situation is unique, contact Payroll directly to ensure the variance is captured across the scheduled runs.
The Bottom Line
This is a meaningful win for MSA members. By correcting the retirement classification for the retro period, we've ensured your service is counted the way it should have been—bringing you closer to retirement on time, with accurate public-safety credit. If you're unsure whether you're included, reach out and we'll review your case against the criteria.