2009 - 03-16-09 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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BOOK 22 PAGE 683 The Board discussed estimates from the federal stimulus package for Medicaid. According to an e-mail from the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners, it was stated counties' share of Medicaid is set at 7.5% of the non-federal share, as the federal reimbursement dollars for Medicaid goes up, our costs are reduced proportionately. Lee County's Medicaid cost from the stimulus package savings total $122,722 for February 2009. No action was taken. The Board considered a Retirement Incentive Plan for Lee County. County Manager John Crumpton presented a revised incentive plan for all permanent employees who are eligible for retirement for this one time offer. Requirements include the following: 1. Must be eligible for either full or partial retirement from the Local Government Retirement System, 2. Must have been employed by Lee County for at least five consecutive years, 3. Must be eligible by August 1, 2009, to take retirement; and 4. Must notify the Human Resource Office in writing of intent to retire by April 1, 2009. Incentives include the following: 1. All eligible employees who notify HR of intent to retire will receive one month salary as severance pay to be paid in a separate check so that deductions are minimized; 2. Those employees eligible for longevity pay will receive their longevity pay for FY 2010 with other full time employees in November 2009, and 3. Employees who take early retirement and are age 50 or above and meet the number of service years requirements will be eligible for the health care coverage as outlined in the Personnel Policy (current policy is age 55). Intent to retire must be received in HR by April 1, 2009. All paperwork required to retire must be filled out and submitted to the Local Government Retirement System at that time. Mr. Crumpton stated all other Personnel Policies as they relate to retiring employees will apply. This is a one-time offer and in no way changes the ongoing Personnel Policies of the County. Interested individuals should contact the HR Department and ask them to assist with an estimate of their retirement benefits. After some discussion, Commissioner Reives moved to extend the sign- up period from April 1, 2009, to April 15, 2009, in order to give employees more time to discuss the circumstances with their spouses. Upon a vote, the results were as follows: Aye: Dalrymple, Hayes, Kelly, Oldham, Paschal, Reives, and Shook Nay: None The Chairman ruled the motion had been adopted unanimously. Commissioner Reives moved to approve the Retirement Incentive Plan as presented by the County Manager with the extension period changed to April 15, 2009. Upon a vote, the results were as : follows Aye: Dalrymple, Hayes, Kelly, Oldham, Paschal, Reives, and Shook Nay: None The Chairman ruled the motion had been adopted unanimously. County Manager John Crumpton discussed a Workers' Comp decrease of 12.8%, resulting in a savings of $480,000.00 to the County. After discussion, Commissioners Reives moved to 7