Deferred Compensation Plan or Defined Contribution Plan is a plan that allows an employee to set aside a portion or percentage of his or her salary to be paid at a later date, generally tax-deferred, such as plans available under Sections 401, 403, and 457 of the Internal Revenue Code. The Deferred Compensation Board, created by the Mayor & Commission on July 1, 2019, is charged with providing for regulation and governance of defined contribution plans, including but not limited to reviewing and selecting investment options; developing investment policy statements; reviewing fees and ensuring that they are reasonable; communicating with plan providers; and considering the comments and suggestions from plan participants. 

Members of the Deferred Compensation Board include District 7 Commissioner John Culpepper; Manager Bob Cowell; Human Resources Director Vicki Casella; Finance Director David Boyd; General Employee Representative Erik Ellison; General Employee Representative Bruce Lonnee; and Community Representative (appointed by the Mayor) Dennis Smillie. Ex Officio / Non-voting members include the Athens-Clarke County Attorney Judd Drake (or his designee); Benefits and Wellness Administrator Bonni Hall; and the Assistant Human Resources Director Sara Ivy, who serves as Deferred Compensation Board Secretary.

Deferred Compensation Board meetings are held quarterly at City Hall in Room 301B at 10:00 a.m. The FY26 meetings are scheduled for the following dates, all of which fall on a Wednesday:

August 13, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. – Regular Meeting

November 12, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. – Regular Meeting

January 14, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. - Joint Meeting with Pension Board

February 11, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. – Regular Meeting

May 13, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. – Regular Meeting

Announcements:  
The next Deferred Compensation Board meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 11, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. This meeting will be available to view by YouTube Live Stream per the link provided below. We hope to see you there!