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COUNTY OF SAN MATEO
Inter-Departmental Correspondence
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County Manager
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DATE:
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April 26, 2005
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BOARD MEETING DATE:
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May 3, 2005
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SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:
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None
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VOTE REQUIRED:
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Majority
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TO:
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Honorable Board of Supervisors
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FROM:
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John Maltbie, County Manager
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SUBJECT:
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Retirement Credit for Prior City Council Service
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RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution implementing the provisions of Government Code §31479.1 in San Mateo County relative to retirement credit for City Council service.
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VISION ALIGNMENT:
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Commitment: Responsive, Effective and Collaborative Government.
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Goal(s): Government decisions are based on careful consideration of future impact, rather than temporary relief or immediate gain.
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BACKGROUND:
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Recently, the Board considered a report regarding AB 55. AB 55 would allow active members of the retirement system to purchase prior service for retirement credit purposes. Due to various issues and questions regarding the Internal Revenue Service position on payment options, the Board deferred action on this item for the time being. During this process, Government Code §31479.1 came to our attention. This section would enable some County officials who served on City Councils prior to commencing their County office to be eligible for reciprocal retirement benefits depending on the timing of when he or she left the City Council position and also whether the City Council had qualifying retirement benefits. County Counsel has determined this section is applicable to San Mateo County. Section 31479.1 provides that “an elective or appointive county official may receive credit for service rendered as a City Councilman even though such service was not compensated.” However, the Board of Supervisors must first make Government Code §31479.1 operative in this County.
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DISCUSSION:
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All County employees that have served on City Councils prior to assuming office should have the same ability to be eligible for retirement credit for their City Council services. Also, persons elected to County positions should not be forced to choose between having the city incur the costs of a special election or valuable retirement benefits that they have earned. Government Code §31479.1 will give the needed flexibility for this transition from city to county service.
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FISCAL IMPACT:
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County’s contribution to the SAMCERS will not be changed by this action.
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L:\cmo\John L. Maltbie\Board memos\2005\RetirementCreditCityCouncilService.doc
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