Baldwin Co. Commission to discuss pay, pensions

BAY MINETTE, Ala. (WALA) - PENSION/RAISE DETAILS HASHED OUT

Tuesday in a work session, Baldwin County Commissioners agreed on the details of a pension increase in conjunction with a pay raise for county employees. Commissioner Bob James said it's part of a plan to help out employees with money they’ve saved for the county.

”Employees have done a good job,” James said. “They’ve found ways in the last year to cut costs. Overall, we’re around $4 million that we’ve saved or reallocated.”

The employee pension contribution increase from five percent to 7.25 percent will be voted on next Tuesday. The cost of living raise of 4.5 percent will be included in the budget which will be voted on in September. Commissioners said both measures will pass.

PAYCHECKS GO UP, THEN DOWN

Because of the timing between the raise and the pension increase, the commissioners wanted the employees to know their paychecks will be bouncing around, starting with the second paycheck in October.

Baldwin County Personnel Director Andrea Rider said, ”Then they’ll see an increase of 4.5 percent. Then the next paycheck, the first one in November, they’ll see the decrease, but it goes to retirement.”

Employees will be left with a raise of two percent. For employees that leave the system before they’re vested in the pension, the increased personal contributions will leave more money for them to take with them.

”Right now, we only put five. They’ll be putting 7.25, so it’s a savings account for employees that are not vested,” Rider said.

Baldwin County employee’s pensions go into the Retirement Systems of Alabama.