Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Big Changes To Our Pension?

The Employee Relations Committee (ERC) has a new pension plan that will significantly impact the employees.

The plan is this: Current employees retain the benefits but the employee/employer contributions ratio will change drastically.

Employees hired before September 2005 (Old pension, 2.75 X) contribution ratio will reverse from the 33 percent paid by the employees, 66 percent paid by the county to 66 percent paid by the employees, 33 percent county.

For employees hired after September 2005 to present (new pension plan, 2.25 X) the ratio of contributions will change to 60 percent contributed by the employee and 40 percent by the county.

The latest proposed pension plan for new employees is a defined contribution with county matching 100 percent of employee contributions to deferred comp up to 4 percent of the salary, and increasing to 200 percent from 4-8 percent with county capping its contributions at 6 percent of salary.

New POST certified cops and certified fire-fighters/EMT would be allowed to participate in a complicated "hybrid" defined-benefit/defined-contribution plan consisting of a defined benefit with a 1.25 X multiplier and the county matching 100 percent of employee deferred compensation contributions to 4 percent of salary.

That is the recommendation from the Employee Relations committee.

Loflyer

ERC Pension Proposal 05132001

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

M outta here... Thats th elast straw...... See Ya....

Anonymous said...

Make sure you hit download to see what the document says

Anonymous said...

This county just dug it's own grave. Who would come to work for this type of retirement benefit. I bet the commissioners would say HELL NO if they were offer this retirement.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the help F.O.P.

Anonymous said...

Ok so let me get this straight...I was hired under the old plan (pre 2005). Currently I'm contributing 8% of my salary, now if the numbers reverse I'm going to have to put in 19% of my pay???? Are you freaking kidding me!!!!

Can anyone please verify what this will actually mean as it pertains to the percentage of our salary.

On a slightly different note, this is some flat out bullshit. You want folks do this crappy job for 30 years and for what??? Oh you'll get fools to come here, but any smart person with options will go somewhere else. These next few years before I retire can't go quick enough.

To Dekalb citizens: Y'all can have your elected politicians and this shithole you call home!!! You deserve each other.

Anonymous said...

So this means people hired before '05 will see their pension contribution double again?? It just doubled less than a year ago. Now they want to double it again? How much more money are they going to take out of our checks?? This is fucking ridiculous!! They are already taking almost $100 a week out of my pay for the pension. Now they want to take twice as much!! $200 a week?? That's almost $10,000 a year!! At that rate, I will have paid over $200,000 into the pension!!!

See ya!!

Anonymous said...

So why are the employees who have been here the longest the ones getting screwed the worst?

Anonymous said...

This document begs for some answers on some fundamental questions. What is the mission of the Employee Relations Committee? HR Director Ransom assured me that the committee is to provide a platform for the Directors and managers to "reach out" to the employees, gain insight and improve employee morale.
This is not the last time that employees have observed this committee in action. It is becoming more than a little obvious that this committee is grossly misnamed and would be best titled as the Employee Financial Benefit Reduction Committee.
I have sent an email to HR Director Ransom calling her out on the issue. I will post my email and her reply as it develops.
I cannot properly express my disgust of of this misnamed committee and the plan they are proposing.
The secrecy of the proposal and the financial harm to the employees is more than just a blip in employee relations. From the proposal it would appear that the Employee Relations Committee's primary goal is to recover employee benefit funding for the BOC, not foster "employee relations".
I requested Director Ransom to allow me to participate as a non-voting committee member a month ago and got no reply. Now I see why.
Mates, I really wish I did not have to publish the documents, but the county BOC initiatives pertaining to employees need to be aired out and scrutinized before the BOC makes another really stupid decision that will strip DeKalb government of its best assets,
competent and intelligent employees.

Anonymous said...

This is just unreal. I am going to be forced to pay nearly $10,000 a year into our pension, my healthcare is about $5,000 a year, once those are taken out, then Uncle Sam can come in and tax what's left. What am I supposed to live on??

We're all better off leaving! Even if your base pay is lower somewhere else, you'll be better off!

Enjoy the crappy employees you're going to be forced to hire! Enjoy the corruption and dirty cops! I'll enjoy watching it unfold on the news from greener pastures!

Anonymous said...

Anon(9;53) because they want you to quit or take the other crappy option with less payout.

Anonymous said...

This county is going down sooner than we think. If the employees leave and they can hire TEMP workers. See where that's gets the BOC for support.

Anonymous said...

Who and the hell will come to work here for these benefits. Wait let's see the crack heads and drunks looking for someplace for a few days.

I though I would retire from this county guess not.... I'm looking staring tomorrow. I will give no notice other than to call and say I FOUND ANOTHER JOB.

Anonymous said...

Well Lil Vern has done it again with the regards to employees. He has screw them again for whatever that matters.

We are already a crime ridden county and now we will be an a place no one wants to come work.

Anonymous said...

The best plan for the employees of this county is for the county to close the pension altogether and go strickly to a 401k instead of a pension. This way, the employee can direct where his/her money goes into what plan, and can change at any time, and not worry what county policitian's sticky fingers are going to what with it.

It works for other jurisdictions, and could work for this county.

Times are changing in the respect that the days of the pension are slowly getting over with the employee to fend for themselves.

It is sort of a forced savings on the behalf of the employee rather than that of the employer. An employee can choose what type of savings, stock, mutual fund or cd they would like to get into and let their individual pocketbook take control of their own destiny.

People....its time to think for yourself and not let the crooks of the commission, CEO, Stogner, or anyone else think for you.

Anonymous said...

Its obvious that they are trying to eliminate the old pension. I wonder how many people who are on the fence about retiring are going to pull the trigger if this thing comes to pass?

Anonymous said...

DeKalb County = HMS Titanic. Still sinking and quicker than ever now....most certainly doomed!

Anonymous said...

It would seem to me that the percentages would need to be equal across the board in order to be legal. I havent heard of anything simular to this where the recomendation is so obvious that the County is trying to force out the old pension employees.

Anonymous said...

How much more evidence do you need for the inevitable? If you are a vested employee still working here and putting yourself and family at risk daily for losing it all with nothing to show for your years of efforts you are either incredibly lazy or unemployable elsewhere. Wake up, freeze your retirement, and get out while you are able.

Anonymous said...

One mistake in your summary, Decreases to 50% in matching from 4% to 8%, not increases to 200%. so even worse!

Anonymous said...

Run Toto, Run!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Looks like you guys better take on some more extra jobs to pay for my retirement benefits. Thanks, I'll have another Margarita in your honor.

Anonymous said...

Really what is the point of working for Dekalb? Virtually no chance for advancement, the worst take-home pay now thanks to pension requirements, not to mention the obvious inherent dangers of that community. Makes me wonder about the mental stability of those that remain.

Anonymous said...

Don't worry too much about the pension guys/gals, just think of it as Social Security in that you're paying for recipients of it now but it will be exhausted before you ever see a dime of it. I think I would cash it out now while I could.

Anonymous said...

Anon 9:36, my mistake and thanks for the correction. The plan was a lot to take in, that's my only excuse.
I have shot out some emails to the commissioners and the HR director asking for some clarification of the Employees Relationship Committee's mission, membership and leadership. We might hear something meaningful back in a week if lucky.
Personally I expect nothing.
Best of luck mates!
KenC

Anonymous said...

Friends (and enemies), I owe director Ransom a public apology, I confused the Employee Relations Committee with the HR policy board in my discussion with Director Ransom, I apologize to Director Ransom and to you.
I do make an effort to only write the facts and not mislead anyone. My only excuse in this case was I was not allowed to record the discussion with the HR director as provided by GA law. I will never make that mistake again.
I am attempting to break out some information on the Employee Relations Committee. The only solid information I have is the document I posted on SCRIBD and Director Ransom's admission that the ERC is directed by the BOC and not her.
I have posted Emails to all the BOC members but honestly expect no reply.
I am attempting to clarify the leadership, membership and function of the ERC through my county contacts.
It is more than apparent that from an employees perspective this is the committee from hell.
The committee operates in secrecy and to an outside observer appears to be a tool of the BOC to wreck havoc upon the employee benefits to recover financial revenue expended on the employees for the BOC.
As I have said before, the commissioners cannot have both sub-standard employee salaries and low benefits and expect to attract or retain quality and competent employees.
The commissioners, judging from their actions and performance over the last decade appear to regard county employees as a expendable source of revenue to maintain none-core and financially unsustainable DeKalb government functions.
I refuse to stand silently and watch the DeKalb commissioners run the county into the ground because they will not accept the reality of the current financial recession, loss of revenue and refuse to reorganize, consolidate and downsize DeKalb government as required by the loss of revenue.
I know that some of you do not agree me on the issues. Fine, present your logical arguments and we will discuss the problems. I am wrong 10-20 percent of the time and change my opinion as the facts become available.
Best of luck, KenC

Anonymous said...

Update; The Employee Relations Committee (ERC) is a "working" committee of three commissioners chaired by Commissioner Boyer with an unknown mission statement, and unknown membership.
The committee does not publish its findings on the county website or public media.
From past activities published it appears the mission of the committee is to recover county revenue expended upon the employees.
KenC

Anonymous said...

LoFlyer:

Since you seem to have the passion and are informed on all of this pension business; let me ask you this

If this pension change goes through, correct me if Im wrong but it will essentially double what was just doubled this year in terms of employee contribution from our paychecks

With that in mind, can the county continue to force you to participate in the pension legally? 16% of my salary taken out will put me and mostly everyone else in the red...... Me personally, I would rather pull out of the pension and take control of my own retirement...I know it will be more secure in my control than in the control of these well dressed idiots and thieves


I think if this change goes through and we are forced to pay double that we all pool together some money and contact an attorney

-anon 1118

Anonymous said...

My goal is for a responsive, responsible, efficient and ethical local government to the DeKalb citizens.
Somehow everyone thinks I am the employees advocate on the pension plan, yes I have researched the PB minutes and challenged some folks on the actions of the representatives at the PB meetings.
That said, my real interest is in what I said in the first paragraph.
Quality and intelligent employees are important to good government. Good leadership and citizens are also necessary. I can't change the last two but I can fight for you on the employee issues. The county cannot attract nor retain quality employees with low-wages, high-cost, increasingly poor benefits, and communications between the BOC and employees best described as zero.
Every employee is obligated to contribute to whatever pension plan they contracted and likewise the county is obligated to pay the stated pension after the employee is vested.
Nothing is stated about ratio of contributions, traditionally it is 1/3 employee and 2/3 employer in DeKalb government.
Under the proposed multi-tier employee pension contributions the most heavily burdened employees have a case for discrimination by the county.
That is the direction I would take if considering a legal challenge.
The DeKalb law office has a history of losing discrimination cases because they don't have much work to with in the first place, and their defense is incompetent as evidenced in the Parks and Rec racial discrimination suit.
I'll pledge 500 dollars to a valid legal challenge if the proposal is adopted.
I will update y'all tomorrow with my research on the Employee Relations committee, I am making progress.

Anonymous said...

Update on the Employee Relations Committee (ERC).
The committee is chaired by Commissioner Elaine Boyer, commissioners Stan Watson and Jeff Radar are the current commitee members.
The only link I have found to a mission statement of the committee can be found at:
http://www.kathiegannon.com/boc-committees.html
The official description of the committee is this:
"Employee Relations and Community Services (ERCS)
Purpose: The Employee Relations and Community Services Committee will have the authority to handle subject matters concerning the following departments and areas: Citizen Help Center, Community Service Board, Cooperative Education, DFACS, Health Benefits, Hospital Fund, Human Services, Parks and Recreation, Pension, Public Health, and Risk Management."
I have requested to be allowed to attend the next ERCS meeting with Elaine Boyers chief of staff, Bob Lundsten. I have received no reply on my request from Bob.
KenC

Anonymous said...

Loflyer

I appreciate the response. I'm not looking for you to be the advocate for us. I too want to fight to keep what we have left. For some reason, most people that work for DeKalb (and in the southeast in general) are scared or lazy and don't stand up for themselves when it comes to negative treatment by an employer. I'm not one who wants to sit still and keep on taking the blows to my wallet, my lifestyle and my future.
It seems our pension and the county can be compared to what social security funds are to congress..... a large tempting pile of money there for the taking.

Wake up people. He who hesitates is lost. We've been losing raises, benefits, benefit options, disposable income, safety, quality co-workers and a little bit of dignity. If we don't stand up, speak up, and be heard, it will all be lost and there will be nothing left except "at least I have a job".

Save some money folks...If this pension change goes through, contributions go up and we are not given a choice to freeze what we got (if vested) and opt out (those vested and all others) then we need to put some money together and contact an attorney and take these sorry ass people in charge to court.

-Anon 1118

Anonymous said...

This proposal really sucks. It this proposal becomes reality, then this department is all but ruined. Presently, we now have veteran officers who have been holding out hope to keep their planned future here applying elsewhere. These officers have lots of valuable and not easily or quickly replaced knowledge, skills, and experience. The Feds and other neighboring jurisdictions are soon going to reep the rewards.

What a shame that this is happening. Shame on you DeKalb County BOC and CEO Ellis. All of you continue to refuse to reorganize and downsize DeKalb government while lining your pockets with lavish raises and food in your stomachs at the taxpayers' and employees' expense. Just pathetic!