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Big Spring Firemen's Relief Retirement Fund
The Big Spring Firemen's Relief Retirement Fund is a defined-benefit pension plan serving firefighters in Big Spring, Texas. Established under the Texas Local...
Big Spring Firemen's Relief Retirement Fund
The Big Spring Firemen's Relief Retirement Fund is a defined-benefit pension plan serving firefighters in Big Spring, Texas. Established under the Texas Local Firefighters' Retirement Act, the fund's board includes the Mayor of Big Spring, Robert H. Moore III, Finance Director Sandy Smith, Chairman Paul Brown, and additional firefighter and citizen trustees. Plan administration is managed by Thomas Ferguson. The fund is an active member of the Texas Association of Public Employee Retirement Systems (TEXPERS), where Chairman Brown also serves on the board of directors. As a small municipal pension plan with an estimated $15 million in assets (Altss estimate), the fund maintains a conservative asset allocation designed to meet near-term benefit obligations. Typical portfolios of this size and type concentrate in investment-grade fixed income, US equities, and cash equivalents, generally accessed through commingled vehicles rather than direct co-investments. While specific holdings are not publicly disclosed, the fund's regulated status under Texas pension law and its TEXPERS membership suggest a diversified, manager-of-managers approach with limited alternatives exposure. Governance rests with a hybrid board that combines ex-officio city officials — the mayor and finance director — with firefighter representatives and citizen appointees. This structure, mandated by the Texas Local Firefighters' Retirement Act, is replicated across dozens of similar Texas pension plans. Chairman Paul Brown's dual role on the TEXPERS board gives the fund direct exposure to the association's educational programs, legislative advocacy, and peer-sharing forums. TEXPERS represents over 80 Texas public pension systems and provides a professional network that shapes investment policy and fiduciary practice for its member funds. Structurally, the fund differs from general-obligation municipal pensions in that it serves only firefighters and is governed by a specialized state statute rather than the Texas Municipal Retirement System. This narrow beneficiary base allows for benefit formulas calibrated to public-safety careers, which typically permit earlier retirement ages than general city employee plans. The fund's statutory isolation also limits commingling risk with broader city obligations — a feature that has protected similar Texas firefighter pensions during municipal fiscal stress.
General information
Firm type
Pension Fund
Year founded
—
AUM
$10M – $25M (Altss estimate)
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Big Spring
Corporate office
Big Spring, TX, United States
Principals
Paul Brown
Chairman, Board of Trustees
Thomas (Tommy) Ferguson
Plan Administrator
Robert H. Moore III
Trustee
Sandy Smith
Trustee
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at the Big Spring Firemen's Relief Retirement Fund?
Investment decisions fall to the Board of Trustees, chaired by Paul Brown and including the Mayor and Finance Director of Big Spring as permanent ex-officio members. The board is bound by the fiduciary standards and governance requirements of the Texas Local Firefighters' Retirement Act. Given the fund's small size, day-to-day administration is managed by Plan Administrator Thomas Ferguson, but the specific delegation to investment consultants or external CIOs is not publicly documented.
What is the fund's relationship with TEXPERS?
The Big Spring fund is an active member of the Texas Association of Public Employee Retirement Systems (TEXPERS), a statewide non-profit that provides trustee education, legislative advocacy, and networking for approximately 75 Texas public pension systems. Chairman Paul Brown holds a seat on the TEXPERS board of directors, giving the Big Spring fund a direct voice in association governance. The relationship primarily offers educational resources and peer-exchange opportunities rather than pooled investment vehicles.
How are Big Spring firefighters' benefits funded?
Benefits are funded through a combination of member contributions, municipal employer contributions from the City of Big Spring, and investment returns on plan assets. As a defined benefit plan, the fund carries an actuarial obligation that the city must meet regardless of investment performance, meaning any funding shortfall becomes a municipal budget line item. Specific contribution rates and funding ratios are not publicly disclosed through the fund's sparse external communications.
Does the fund make direct investments or only fund commitments?
There is no public record that clarifies whether the fund invests directly or solely through commingled vehicles. Pension plans of this size in Texas typically use institutional mutual funds, separately managed accounts with regional managers, or participation in state-level investment pools rather than direct private deals. No evidence of limited partner commitments to private equity or venture capital funds is publicly available for this plan.
Who sits on the board, and how are trustees appointed?
The board includes a mix of statutory and appointed trustees under the Texas Local Firefighters' Retirement Act. Robert H. Moore III (Mayor of Big Spring) and Sandy Smith (Finance Director) serve permanently by virtue of their municipal offices. Firefighter board members are elected or appointed per the statute, and a certain number of citizen trustees are appointed to provide external oversight. Chairman Paul Brown and Plan Administrator Thomas Ferguson are the primary named points of contact in public documents.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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