ProfileFY2024 PRB Verified
Big Spring FF sits at #32 of 42 Texas Local Fire Fighters Retirement Act (TLFFRA) plans by assets under management (AUM). Its FY2024 funded ratio of 62.82% is near the TLFFRA simple mean of 65.6%. The plan's effective amortization period of 19.1 years is within the PRB's preferred 10-25 year range. The 7.75% discount rate is more aggressive than the TLFFRA median of 7.25%. The plan uses Entry Age Normal cost method and a fixed contribution policy. Big Spring FF trustee Paul R. Brown has served on the TEXPERS Board of Directors since 1996, including a term as TEXPERS President. Brown is a Society of Pension Professionals member with a Chartered Trustee designation.
Plan AdministrationLocal Board · Local Operations
Phone (PRB filing)
(432) 263-4036
Mailing Address
310 Nolan St, Big Spring, TX 79720
Source: PRB plan-detail page #32.
Membership & ContributionsPRB Filing
Active / Annuitant Ratio
1.27
Employee Contribution
13.00% of pay
Employer Contribution
19.03% of pay
Source: PRB plan-detail page #32.
Benefit TermsTier 1 Provisions
Normal Retirement
Age/YCS: 50/20
Benefit Formula (Tier 1)
Years of Credited Service x 2.55% x Final Average Salary
Final Average Salary
Highest 60 months
Source: PRB plan-detail page #32. Tier 1 reflects the primary benefit tier; some plans have a separate Tier 2 for members hired after a specified date. See the PRB page for full plan provisions.
Service ProvidersActuary · Custodian · Advisor · Auditor
Service providers: Not separately published in PRB filings or on the fund's public materials. TLFFRA boards typically retain an independent actuary, a bank custodian, an investment consultant, and an external auditor. Service-provider engagements are local-board records and typically become public through board minutes (available by request from the plan administrator) or in the audited financial statements filed with the PRB. The fund's website (linked above) often lists current providers under a "Service Providers" or "Board" tab.
Sponsoring AgencyBig Spring Fire Department
Sponsoring Fire Department: The Big Spring Fire Department covers the City of Big Spring, Howard County. The fund covers 57 active firefighters and 45 annuitants as reported on the PRB-1000 filing. Department-level operational detail (station count, apparatus, accreditation, ISO rating) is not separately tracked in TLFFRA filings; the City of Big Spring's fire department web page is the canonical source.
FY2024 Financials & Actuarial DetailTexas Pension Review Board
Market Value of Assets
$16,998,683
Actuarial Value of Assets
$15,636,275
Actuarial Accrued Liability
$24,892,494
Funded Ratio (Actuarial)
62.82%
Effective Amortization
19.1 years
Inflation Assumption
3.00%
Total Expenses (% of Assets)
0.459% (45.9 bps) #13 of 42 (lowest=best)
Cost Method
Entry Age Normal
View this plan's full PRB record →
Expense ratio note: The "Total Expenses (% of Assets)" line is the PRB's published total operating expenses (administrative + investment-related) as a percentage of net assets, sourced from each plan's annual financial report. Per the PRB's own disclaimer: "Due to inconsistencies in reporting of investment expenses, this data may not be an entirely accurate depiction of true investment-related expenses paid." Lower is generally better but cohort context matters. Smaller funds carry higher fixed administrative costs. The 42-fund average is 0.708% (70.8 bps); median is 0.675% (67.5 bps). Source: PRB expenses CSV →