COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

County Manager’s Office

 

DATE:

April 20, 2009

BOARD MEETING DATE:

May 5, 2009

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

   

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

David S. Boesch, County Manager

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 classifications of Rehabilitation Production Supervisor I/II, Cook I/II, Food Service Worker I/II and Seamstress to select an early retirement option as an alternative to layoffs.

 

Vision Alignment

Commitment: Responsive, effective and collaborative government.

Goal 20: Government decisions are based on careful consideration of future impact, rather than temporary relief or immediate gain.

 

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 organizational changes the Human Services Agency, the San Mateo Medical Center and the Probation Department anticipates eliminating 1 filled Rehabilitation Production Supervisor I/II position, 2 filled Cook I/II positions, 2 filled Food Service Worker I/II positions and 2 filled Seamstress positions respectively. Exercising an early retirement option will prevent lay-offs. We are recommending that the early retirement option be implemented for the classifications of Rehabilitation Production Supervisor I/II, Cook I/II, Food Service Worker I/II and Seamstress.

 

Fiscal Impact

Long term employees who elect this option will benefit by receiving an additional two years of service credit in the calculation of pension benefits. The increase in pension benefits will vary person to person. Past calculations have resulted in approximately a 3.5% increase.

 
 

cc:

Mike Murphy, County Counsel
Calvin Remington, Interim Chief of Probation Services
Donna Vaillancourt, Human Resources Director
Beverly Beasley-Johnson, Director of Human Services Agency

Jean Fraser, Chief of Health System
David Bailey, Chief Executive Officer, SamCERA
Tom Huening, County Controller