Rep. Bellino: End tax disadvantage for police, fire retirees

State Rep. Joe Bellino, R-Monroe, has introduced legislation giving income tax relief to younger retired police and firefighters not covered by Social Security, bringing them more in line with other retirees.
Rep. Bellino’s bill, House Bill 4396, affects Michigan public safety professionals who were born after 1952 and were retired before 2013. The bill would provide an increased tax deduction for retirement or pension benefits from government employment that was not covered by Social Security.
Bellino’s bill would allow these retirees to claim the same sort of income tax deductions already allowed for retirees covered by Social Security. A similar fix for retirees born before 1953 and not covered by Social Security became part of Michigan law a few years ago.
The difference in taxation has been an issue since Michigan adopted broad tax reforms in 2011.
“We need to look out for the police and firefighters who spent so many years on the front lines keeping us safe in Michigan,” Bellino said. “We shouldn’t be penalizing them based on who their employer was or when they were born. Let’s bring some fairness to the system and help those who served the public so well keep more of their own money.”
Some of Michigan’s public safety retirees had employers who opted out of paying into the Social Security system decades ago. Depending on when they were born, those retirees are paying higher taxes in retirement than those who have Social Security.
Bellino’s bill would benefit retirees from public safety departments across the state, including hundreds of members of the Retired Detroit Police and Fire Fighters Association.
“This is a fairness issue and a promise that was made to public safety officers several years ago,” said Don Taylor, president of the Retired Detroit Police and Fire Fighters Association. “We are extremely grateful to Rep. Bellino for introducing this legislation and his commitment to standing up for Michigan’s first responders.”