Lake County to offer 383 workers retirement incentives

An estimated 383 Lake County government employees will be offered incentives to retire under a proposal being considered by the county board.

However, only about 106 workers are expected to take the offer, said Rodney Marion, the county's human resources director.

The plan, which could be approved by the county board today, would give workers already of retirement age an extra year or two of the county's health and dental insurance if they retire now rather than waiting.

The proposal is not an early-retirement plan, County Administrator Barry Burton stressed.

"This is an incentive to get them to do it now," he said.

It's the second straight year such a plan has been floated as a way to cut costs. Last year, 117 employees from various county offices participated in a similar plan. Those departures are expected to save the county about $7.2 million over three years, Burton said.

If approved, the new program is expected to save the county up to $3,077 per worker the first year. A savings of $9,635 per worker is predicted for the second year, and a $22,419 savings per worker is expected the third year.

The savings "will affect a bunch of different areas" and could prevent staff layoffs, Marion said.

Last year, 31 employees were let go in cost-cutting moves, he said.

If the board greenlights the plan, the option will be offered to employees starting Wednesday, June 9. The program will end July 23.

Workers who decide to retire must depart by Oct. 29, the plan states.

To be eligible, most employees must be at least 55 years old and have worked for Lake County for at least eight years.

Only deputies, sergeants and lieutenants in the Lake County sheriff's office have different eligibility standards. They must be at least 50 years old and have completed at least 20 years of service.

Employees who retire under the plan would be allowed to keep their current health- and dental-insurance benefits for up to two years.

A second option would allow retirees to reduce their health and dental benefits by one year in exchange for a cash payout based on experience. The maximum total payout under that option would be $20,000.