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How Big A Check Can He Write?

nunnnunn Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 36,085 ******
edited September 2006 in General Discussion
Comment by nunn: I am not sure what the mayor is getting at here. I don't think cash buyouts are legal in the public sector, but I am interested to see how this shakes out.

Early retirement plan could impact police, fire departments

By BRAD KELLAR
Herald-Banner Staff

GREENVILLE - A plan to offer City of Greenville employees financial incentives to retire early or otherwise leave their jobs could have the biggest impact on the city's police and fire departments, according to the city's personnel director.

Mayor Tom Oliver and the City Council finance/audit committee have asked the full Council to vote on a proposal to reduce the city staff by up to 50 positions. That vote is scheduled during Tuesday's regular Council session, starting at 6 p.m. in the Municipal Building, 2821 Washington Street. The Council is also scheduled to meet in a work session, starting at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Oliver has proposed a "head count reduction" of the current staff, through retirement, resignations or other means. Employees would be offered financial incentives to leave, with the money taken from water fund reserves. With each employee earning an average of $51,000 in combined salary and incentives, Oliver believes the city could see a reduction in operating costs of $2.5 million.

The proposed ordinance before the Council Tuesday calls for the reductions on a "first come, first served" basis while maintaining "the same or higher level of service to the citizens of the City of Greenville."

The ordinance dictates the service levels should be maintained "without the necessity of re-filling the positions eliminated by the early retirement and/or separations of employees, either through reorganization, more efficient use of technology, or other available means."

City Manager Karen Daly would be called upon to prepare the package, reserving the right to refuse any employee early retirement/separation, while keeping in mind the ultimate goal is to reduce the city staff by 50 positions.

City of Greenville Human Resources Director Barry Robinson said if just retirees were offered the incentives, two departments could see the biggest losses in personnel.

"The majority of our employees who have the longest tenure and are eligible to retire are in the police and fire departments," Robinson said Friday, adding he did not have the exact numbers of how many employees might be affected by the move, as he had not yet received the details of the proposal.

"We don't know what the form is yet of any early retirement or early separation package," Robinson said.

Employees with the City of Greenville work under two different retirement systems.

"I'm waiting for data from them on how many are eligible to retire," Robinson said.

Employees of the Greenville Fire Department are also under their own separate pension plan, he said.

Comments

  • shoff14shoff14 Member Posts: 11,994 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Public schools do this all the time, so I can't see why a city can't do it.
  • nunnnunn Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 36,085 ******
    edited November -1
    I am eligible to retire, rolling up on 25 years if I make it to October 9. Just can't afford to make the move yet.
  • jc_crazyhorsejc_crazyhorse Member Posts: 1,083 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by nunn
    I am eligible to retire, rolling up on 25 years if I make it to October 9. Just can't afford to make the move yet.


    I guess that would depend on how big a check the mayor wrote you.
  • whiteclouderwhiteclouder Member Posts: 10,574 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    They routinely offer an early-out in the gon't contracting arena. I've worked for AeroJet, EG&G, Lockheed, Bechtel and now Battelle. All have, at one time or another, offered severance packages for people over 50 and with a skill that's required at the moment. The last one in Oct 2005 was two years salary + the value of the benefits package, plus three years on you calendar age and four years career longevity.

    Clouder..
  • hughbetchahughbetcha Member Posts: 7,801 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    There no reason it would not be legal. They would probably offer you option of extending medical benefits and about one month's pay for each year of service.
  • RoadkillRoadkill Member Posts: 509 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    So your officers who choose to stay will be diong more work for less.......Typical city BS!

    You should all stay to spite them!
  • agloreaglore Member Posts: 6,012
    edited November -1
    Don't know what your city charter says but here it takes at a minnimum 3 meetings to get an Ordanance passed/shot down. 1st meeting is too introduce the ordanance and then the 2nd one for public input and the 3rd to either pass or turn down the ordanance. So by the time this comes up for final passage you could already have your 25 years in. See what they have to offer over the 25 year retirement as an incentive not to go too 30 years.
  • bigdaddyjuniorbigdaddyjunior Member Posts: 11,233
    edited November -1
    After the railroad job they tried on your buddy I would think that you would be all over this. Make them buy you out and get that part time Lowes job. Better yet just run for sherrif and hire all of you fellow retirees on as your deputies.
  • zipperzapzipperzap Member Posts: 25,057
    edited November -1
    ... often it's called 'The Golden Parachute,' in most
    industries.

    It's done all the time for economic reasons. If you
    have an employee who has maxed out years ago,
    quite often they can be replaced for half that salary
    ... and it'll take a long time before that employee's
    salary will max out again. Multiply that by many
    employees and you've got quite a savings!
    [:D]
  • jc_crazyhorsejc_crazyhorse Member Posts: 1,083 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    My dad took a buy out. He had 1 yrs. before he could retire, and they offered him $100,000.00 to go one year early. That was a bit more than he would have made had he worked all yr. He took it and ran.
  • kristovkristov Member Posts: 6,633
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by zipperzap
    ... often it's called 'The Golden Parachute,' in most
    industries.

    It's done all the time for economic reasons. If you
    have an employee who has maxed out years ago,
    quite often they can be replaced for half that salary
    ... and it'll take a long time before that employee's
    salary will max out again. Multiply that by many
    employees and you've got quite a savings!
    [:D]


    Zipper, that smiling face tells me that you took that parachute ride and probably had a VERY soft landing!
  • nunnnunn Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 36,085 ******
    edited November -1
    I got a pretty good giggle today. Nothing written down, but a figure being thrown about is $5G. Now, that's funny right there. I don't care who ya are.
  • bigdaddyjuniorbigdaddyjunior Member Posts: 11,233
    edited November -1
    5 grand to show up for the meeting? Surely they don't think anyone would take an early retirement for pocket change. I'd think atleast 8-12 months salary plus medical til usual retirement age.
  • WarbirdsWarbirds Member Posts: 16,939 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    This is exactly how the bean counters' ruined the Navy.
  • select-fireselect-fire Member Posts: 69,529 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Company I use to work for had a pep talk once about how they were taking care of us and that we had " golden handcuffs". I spray painted a pair of handcuffs gold and left them in the top of my toolbox just for laughs.. Maybe the town council can get the Mayor to take the 5G and he will leave [?]
  • nashflashnashflash Member Posts: 727 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    David , did Greenville PD add any officers on through the COPS Grant , and if so, how many?

    nashflash
  • nunnnunn Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 36,085 ******
    edited November -1
    quote:David , did Greenville PD add any officers on through the COPS Grant , and if so, how many?

    nashflash

    I don't think so. That was the Klinton thing, wasn't it? Too many strings and no funding after the first year.
  • spanielsellsspanielsells Member Posts: 12,498
    edited November -1
    I'll let them buy me out. Who do I give my address to so they can send a check?
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