City workers betting on early retirement over 2C
Some Colorado Springs city employees apparently aren’t optimistic that voters will approve a proposed property tax increase on the November ballot and avert layoffs.
Nearly 100 employees have expressed interest in an early retirement program, including those who think their jobs are on the chopping block next year.
“I know that some of the people already said they put in thinking (they) may be on the (reduction in force) list,” Human Resources Director Ann Crossey said today.
Other employees may wait until after Nov. 3 to make a decision.
“You will also have some people, I’m sure, wait to see what happens with the election,” Crossey said.
The 99 people who expressed interest in participating in the Voluntary Attrition Retirement Program are all civilian employees. Not all of them can actually apply.
“We looked at all the positions that expressed there might be interest and said, ‘OK, we’ll authorize this set of them to apply because we can absorb the position (or) fill it some other way,’” she said. “The purpose of doing this is to save the city money. It’s not to spend money.”
Employees who will be allowed to apply for the buyout will be notified by Friday. Crossey said she expects more than half to apply.
“We were thinking maybe 25 or 30. I’m thinking now we may get as many as 50,” she said.
Police officers and firefighters. who account for 1,200 of the city’s 1,800 workers, are not among the 99 who have indicated their interest in early retirement. The officers and firefighters are eligible for the early retirement program and have until Monday to Oct. 23 to express interest, Crossey said.
Under the retirement program, eligible employees voluntarily retire, and their position or a related position will remain vacant. In return, the city will give them additional benefits, such as cash severance or extended health coverage, which they would not otherwise be entitled to receive if they retired.
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