An attorney for the Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System told the Arkansas Democrat Gazette yesterday that seven elected county or city officials were mailed notices Monday that they had received retirement benefits improperly. The report said that officials were informed that their benefits will be cut off and they must repay the benefits that they have received. According to the Democrat Gazette report, retirement system officials declined to name the elected officials whose retirements are under review. The report, however, did identify three officials from Garland County, one from Woodruff County, two from Lonoke County, one from Desha County, one from Jefferson County and one official from Lafayette County who drew retirement benefits while continuing to stay in office. The Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System Director, Gail Stone, made a final determination Friday that each of the officials had failed to meet a requirement that they terminate employment before receiving retirement benefits. System attorney, Jay Wills, said that each official owes the system thousands of dollars and some owe amounts considerably higher. The officials can appeal the ruling to the system’s board of trustees and then to circuit court, according to Wills.