County offers over-plush retirement package

EDITOR,
With the Santa Cruz County labor contracts being renegotiated this fall with the unions, just one aspect among many in the lavish pension program is examined here.
During the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009, 47 employees retired from the Santa Cruz County government and were added to the retirement pool. The average annual retirement check for each one was $37,776, with an automatic increase of 2 percent compounding annually. In addition, at age 65, the vast majority will also receive their Social Security benefits.
This may not appear to be excessive for a lifelong career in government, but only seven of the 47 had as many as 30 years working for the county. In fact, you merely have to work five years for the government and you qualify for your pension when you’re 50 years of age, even if you are out of government and your real employment career is in the private sector. This group of 47 had an average of 18.4 years of county employment.
The taxpayers’ cost for retirement during the fiscal year ending in 2009 was $33,906,000, as opposed to $8,739,000 in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001. Why that yearly comparison, and what caused the change? Since that time, there have been three costly enhancements to the retirement program, along with additional payroll and a reduction in investment income.
This is but one small aspect of the county’s lush retirement program that can provide an employee with more income retired than while working. The situation could be partially resolved by extending to 10 years the period required to qualify for the pension and, the simple answer, having the employees pay some of their own pension costs.
How many of you working outside of government qualify in five years for a pension and have it all paid by your employer?
Bob Suhr, Scotts Valley