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COUNTY OF SAN MATEO Inter-Departmental Correspondence | |||
Employee and Public Services Department | |||
DATE: |
November 18, 2002 | ||
BOARD MEETING DATE: |
December 3, 2002 | ||
TO: |
Honorable Board of Supervisors | ||
FROM: |
Robert Foucrault, Coroner Mary Welch, Employee and Public Services Director | ||
SUBJECT: |
Early Retirement in Lieu of Layoffs | ||
Recommendation | |||
Adopt a resolution enacting Section 31641.04 of the Government Code enabling otherwise eligible employees in the classification of Coroner's Investigator in the Coroner's Office to select an early retirement option to reduce staff as an alternative to the layoff of employees. | |||
Background | |||
Government Code Section 31641.04 permits members of the County Employees' Retirement System to receive two additional years of service credits toward retirement under conditions established by the Board of Supervisors. This code section was enacted on a broad basis in 1988 as a result of curtailment of services and changes in the manner of services. By invoking this code section the number of layoffs as a result of the cost savings was reduced. Since that time, your Board has periodically adopted resolutions that allowed employees in various departments to select the early retirement option to reduce costs and prevent employees from being laid off as a result of the cost cutting. | |||
Discussion | |||
As a result of anticipated budgetary reductions in Fiscal Year 2003-2004 the Coroner's Office anticipates eliminating a filled position. Exercising an early retirement option will prevent lay-offs. We are recommending that the early retirement option be implemented for the classification of Coroner's Investigator. | |||
Fiscal Impact | |||
The proposed elimination of a Coroner's Investigator position in Fiscal Year 2003-2004 would result in a savings of $91,206. However, there will be an increase in the overtime and extra help budgets, which should not exceed $20,000. The projected on-going savings to the department and the County is $71,206. Long term employees who elect this option will benefit by receiving an additional two years of service credit in the calculation of pension benefits, which will increase the pension benefit by approximately 3.5%. | |||
Vision Alignment | |||
This item keeps the commitment of responsive, effective and collaborative government through goal number 20: Government decisions are based on careful consideration of future impact, rather than temporary relief or immediate gain. | |||
c |
Nancy Hetrick Tom Casey Sid McCausland | ||
