By AP
Frankfort, KY – The Kentucky Retirement Systems board of trustees will require larger contributions from local governments to cover the rising costs faced by the County Employees Retirement System in the coming year. Trustees took the action Thursday. Local governments will now contribute just over 2% more of non-hazardous-duty employees' salaries to the retirement system and over 2.5% more for hazardous-duty employees. The Kentucky League of Cities says the higher rates will increase the costs to city governments by some $17 million next fiscal year. Some local officials are warning that the increase could lead to layoffs.