9/23/2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

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• • plans may offer other possibilities, but she was looking at the total dollars. Some people, such as firemen, can retire and get a second job. She wondered why we would carry their insurance while they are on a second job. Assistant Administrator Baird stated that firemen and other special risk employees can retire after 25 years at 55 or 57. He noted that we do not subsidize employees unless they work for Indian River County for a minimum of 8 years and Commissioner Adams wants 10 years. In order to be eligible they must retire under the definition in our handbook. There is no way of controlling the future work habits of anyone. After 25 years of service, we are trying to be fair. A problem we are facing is that lower -paid employees either cannot afford insurance or their whole pension is going to insurance and some cannot afford to retire because of the costs of health insurance. This was brought forward at the Board's request. Assistant Administrator Baird responded to further questions of Vice Chairman Ginn who felt that the Board needed to know more of the financial implications of this. Commissioner Neuberger asked if Vice Chairman Ginn thought there should be a "floor" on the age, for example from 62 to 65 because generally those who retire earlier would be employed elsewhere. This was his reasoning when he asked this be brought back to the Board (at the September 16th meeting). Chairman Macht thought Commissioner Neuberger's suggestion would be fair to the public and the retiree. Assistant Administrator Baird believed the majority of those who retire are over 55. We only have 18 who have single coverage who are under 65 and 18 who have dependent coverage under 65 at this time. One of the problems at this time, under our rules, is that when you retire from the County, you must make the choice at the time of retirement whether you want to take the County's health insurance. They cannot come back later and September 23, 2003 35