What is the relationship between a fire relief association and the city or town fire department?

Under Minnesota law, a city or town fire department is a part of the city or town, just like the public works or parks and recreation departments are departments of the city or town. The fire department is not a separate governmental entity.

A fire relief association is generally affiliated with a city or town fire department and is a separate governmental entity from the city or town. One way in which a relief association differs from a city or town fire department is that a relief association is required to maintain control of its own funds. It receives and manages public money to offer retirement benefits for those providing firefighting and emergency first response services.

Each relief association is governed by a board of trustees, which includes three municipal representatives. Cities and towns are sometimes required to provide financial support to their affiliated relief association. Minnesota law requires that certain types of relief association decisions be ratified by the affiliated city or town. Additional information is provided in our Pension Topic on ratification requirements.

More information on the differences in fire department and fire relief association accounts can be found in our Statement of Position.