City Saves Through Retirements
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Four city employees, taking advantage of a state pension funding program, are taking early retirement, saving the city nearly $100,000.
Mayor Ernie Wiggins said the early retirements of police officers Lt. Lance Grubbs and Detective Sgt. Jerry Laurien; firefighter Daniel Rife, and fire inspector Peter Gatke were made possible by a state program enacted to aid local governments address unfunded retirement obligations. The program was a one-time offer by the state and had to be accepted by June 30.
"I'm convinced what we're paying out is significantly less than it would have been if the city would have had to fund these pensions," Wiggins said. "The savings to the city will be approximately $90,000."
With insurance included, the savings could be as much as $100,000 in the current fiscal year, he said.
Under the program, each retiree received a lump-sum buyout of approximately $22,000. The state will then be responsible for making the monthly retirement benefit payments.
"This was a one-time opportunity offered by the state, and I'm not aware if the state is planning to extend the program," Wiggins said. "The retirements were on a purely voluntary basis. We're not forcing anyone out under this program. Not everyone eligible for early retirement decided to take advantage of the program."
Laurien, a 25-year veteran of WPD, will return to the department in a civilian capacity. He had served as a patrolman and, most recently, as the department's juvenile officer. In addition to those duties, he was also responsible for recruitment and hiring of new officers, entering incident reports into the WPD computer, videotaping crime and accident scenes, issuing gun permits and conducting field drug tests.
Grubbs was a 21-year veteran of WPD, serving as the department's training coordinator in addition to patrol lieutenant, where he supervised the patrol and communication divisions.
Firefighter Daniel Rife had served WFD since 1967. He held most positions in the department, from driver to assistant fire chief.
Gatke joined the department in 1976 as a driver. He was also the only full-time inspector that WFD has had. [[In-content Ad]]
Four city employees, taking advantage of a state pension funding program, are taking early retirement, saving the city nearly $100,000.
Mayor Ernie Wiggins said the early retirements of police officers Lt. Lance Grubbs and Detective Sgt. Jerry Laurien; firefighter Daniel Rife, and fire inspector Peter Gatke were made possible by a state program enacted to aid local governments address unfunded retirement obligations. The program was a one-time offer by the state and had to be accepted by June 30.
"I'm convinced what we're paying out is significantly less than it would have been if the city would have had to fund these pensions," Wiggins said. "The savings to the city will be approximately $90,000."
With insurance included, the savings could be as much as $100,000 in the current fiscal year, he said.
Under the program, each retiree received a lump-sum buyout of approximately $22,000. The state will then be responsible for making the monthly retirement benefit payments.
"This was a one-time opportunity offered by the state, and I'm not aware if the state is planning to extend the program," Wiggins said. "The retirements were on a purely voluntary basis. We're not forcing anyone out under this program. Not everyone eligible for early retirement decided to take advantage of the program."
Laurien, a 25-year veteran of WPD, will return to the department in a civilian capacity. He had served as a patrolman and, most recently, as the department's juvenile officer. In addition to those duties, he was also responsible for recruitment and hiring of new officers, entering incident reports into the WPD computer, videotaping crime and accident scenes, issuing gun permits and conducting field drug tests.
Grubbs was a 21-year veteran of WPD, serving as the department's training coordinator in addition to patrol lieutenant, where he supervised the patrol and communication divisions.
Firefighter Daniel Rife had served WFD since 1967. He held most positions in the department, from driver to assistant fire chief.
Gatke joined the department in 1976 as a driver. He was also the only full-time inspector that WFD has had. [[In-content Ad]]