The Hood River City Council approved setting aside $1.637 million dollars to use as a side account for future Public Employees Retirement System obligations, making it eligible for matching funds from the state.  City Manager Rachel Fuller noted Hood River had already put aside $500,000 a few years ago in a similar move, but this time a 25 percent state match would grow this account to over two million dollars.  Fuller says the goal is to help the City weather PERS rate increases.  Fuller adds they may not use all the money that Council gave authorization for, saying they don’t have to make that decision yet.