Fayetteville workers now have a better retirement system at an additional cost of $8,374 a month.

New formulae will increase retirement benefits for elected officials and employees, and a new provision allows members of the retirement system to change their beneficiaries more easily.

Also, workers can carry over a portion of their unused sick leave in calculating their benefits.

Cost of the changes was included in the city's recently approved budget. City Council approved the amendments during its regular business meeting Monday, after a presentation by Police Chief Johnny Roberts, chairman of an employee committee that conducted a study of the retirement program.