Supervisors approve change to retirement contributions

Glenn County department heads and nonunion employees will begin paying 100 percent of their retirement contributions into the Public Employees Retirement System in February, and will get a 4 percent raise to compensate for the cost.

Supervisors approved the requirement Tuesday to comply with revisions to state law mandating the change as of Jan. 1.

It is part of the Public Employees' Reform Act of 2013.

Interim Personnel Director Huston Carlyle reported currently all union or bargaining unit represented county employees are paying the 100 percent employee contribution to their retirements.

Each supervisor who is in the PERS retirement system is paying 100 percent of their contributions as well, Carlyle added.

But the department heads and other nonrepresented staff were only paying 50 percent of their contribution to their retirement accounts with Glenn County paying the other 50 percent of the employee share.

Tuesday's action resolves that inequity, Carlyle said, while complying with the new law.

However, the department heads and nonrepresented employees also will receive a four percent salary hike to compensate for their added contributions.

This is estimated to cause a slight increase to the county's general fund costs for benefits expenditures, he said, with the county paying $2,035 for it through June 30 based on estimates by Finance Director Edward Lamb. This hike is to cover additional Medicare and other cost adjustments incurred by the four percent pay increase.

The pay hike is really a "wash" for the employees and department heads that include both elected and appointed officials, Carlyle said, since the four percent will be going towards their retirement accounts.

Those affected include Assessor-Clerk-Recorder Sheryl Thur, District Attorney Robert Maloney, Sheriff Larry Jones, Agricultural Commissioner Jim Donnelly and Chief Probation Officer Brandon Thompson.

Carlyle also will be included in the action along with the county's animal control officer, Finance Director Ed Lamb, Health and Human Services Agency Director Scott Gruendl, Public Guardian Jeannie Rackstraw, Child Support Services Director Dawn Mayer and Planning/Public Works Director John Linhart.

The unfilled Personnel Director's position and County Administrative Officer's positions would be included as well, so the county can comply with the new law if or when they are re-filled.

Salaried non-represented employees include the vacant deputy county administrative officer's post, chief deputy director of social services, executive assistant to the county counsel and the vacant internal auditor's post.

Hourly non-represented employees include a confidential office assistant, deputy clerk of the board of supervisors, payroll coordinator, two personnel assistant positions and a personnel technician-veterans services representative.

County code also calls for the annual salary review of elected officials and county department heads along with the non-represented employees, Carlyle said.

He added the action did not affect the Board of Supervisors since the three who are retired from the PERS system already pay 100 percent of their employee contribution and two members are not involved with that system.

Supervisor Dwight Foltz expressed concern about the four-percent pay increase, but voted for it once he learned it was to be equitable with the other employee agreements, he said.