Escambia County is looking for $17.1 million in budget cuts. County Budget director Amy Lovoy has made these recommendations to the BOCC:
— Eliminate longevity pay after Sept. 30, 2009. Those already receiving longevity raises would continue at their current rate. Currently county employees get a 2 percent raise after their first five years on the job. The amount of the raise then rises every five years and tops out at 10 percent a year after 30 years.
— Amazingly the County has been paying holiday overtime at 2.5 times regular hourly pay. The standard in the private sector is 2 times. Lovoy recommends going from 2.5 to 2 times.
— Reduce extra leave benefit for managerial and technical employees. Managers will go from 80 hours to 60; Technical employees from 60 to 40.
— Employees would be charged $5 more per month for basic dental coverages, and $10 for expanded dental coverage.
— Eliminate county-funded life insurance for retirees…..Where are paying life insurance for retirees???
— Eliminate the lower-cost health care option for Medicare-eligible retirees but offer access to a Medicare supplement policy.
Note: The County just saved the the City of Pensacola thousands. The council doesn’t have to do a study on whether to keep longevity pay. It can now follow the County’s elimination of this public sector benefit.