The St. Pete Times has reported that a growing number of elected officials are quietly taking advantage of a loophole carved into the state retirement law a few years ago that allows double dipping — collecting a state pension while still getting a regular paycheck from taxpayers.
The cost of pensions for “retirees” who have returned to the payroll was around $300-million last year, according to the Florida Retirement System.
Here are the local double dippers, according to St. Pete Times. Note – amounts of some benefits are unavailable because a state law exempts all investment information when an employee chooses an investment plan instead of a pension.
Boone, Gerald W.
Agency Name: Escambia Co School Board
* Salary in 06-07: $21,751.58
* Monthly retirement payment: $2,234.47
* “Retired” in: 7/1/2000
* Total retirement benefit collected: $135,185.27
Gindl, Peter R.
Agency Name: Escambia Co School Board
* Salary in 06-07: $34,619.99
* Monthly retirement payment: $2,232.17
* “Retired” in: 7/1/1998
* Total retirement benefit collected: $127,294.10
Hartley, Albert C.
Agency Name: University Of West Florida
* Salary in 06-07: $148,545.30
* Monthly retirement payment: $10,171.45
* “Retired” in: 11/1/2002
* Total retirement benefit collected:
Hightower, Patricia D.
Agency Name: Escambia Co School Board
* Salary in 06-07: $34,619.99
* Monthly retirement payment:
* “Retired” in:
* Total retirement benefit collected:
RO Note – 10:35 a.m.: Spoke with Patty Hightower. She did some contract work with UWF a while ago and paid into a retirement program (IRA?), but never retired and only got what she paid into the plan. She is not receiving any retirement payments from the state retirement system.
Hollarn, Patricia M.
Agency Name: Okaloosa Co Bd Of Co Commissioners
* Salary in 06-07: $105,042.72
* Monthly retirement payment: $3,251.16
* “Retired” in: 2/1/2002
* Total retirement benefit collected: $112,923.95
Holloway, James M.
Agency Name: Escambia Co Sheriff’S Dept
* Salary in 06-07: $66,923.24
* Monthly retirement payment: $1,174.08
* “Retired” in: 7/1/2003
* Total retirement benefit collected:
Ivey, Maxine M.
Agency Name: Town Of Jay
* Salary in 06-07: $2,400.00
* Monthly retirement payment: $132.47
* “Retired” in: 11/1/1988
* Total retirement benefit collected:
Johnson, Mary M.
Agency Name: Santa Rosa Co Clerk Of Circuit Court
* Salary in 06-07: $117,349.22
* Monthly retirement payment: $6,515.53
* “Retired” in: 4/1/2001
* Total retirement benefit collected: $403,470.24
Magaha, Ernie L.
Agency Name: Escambia Co Clerk Of Circuit Court
* Salary in 06-07: $132,810.68
* Monthly retirement payment: $9,522.37
* “Retired” in: 6/1/2001
* Total retirement benefit collected: $397,593.95
McNesby, Harry R.
Agency Name: Escambia Co Sheriff’s Dept
* Salary in 06-07: $140,708.07
* Monthly retirement payment: $3,975.89
* “Retired” in: 7/1/1998
* Total retirement benefit collected: $73,669.93
Richburg, James R.
Agency Name: Okaloosa Walton Community College
* Salary in 06-07: $215,000.00
* Monthly retirement payment:
* “Retired” in: 10/1/2002
* Total retirement benefit collected: $553,228.16
Walker, Rodney L.
Agency Name: Okaloosa Co School Board
* Salary in 06-07: $33,170.38
* Monthly retirement payment: $3,949.70
* “Retired” in: 7/1/1994
* Total retirement benefit collected:
Wu, P C.
Agency Name: City Of Pensacola
* Salary in 06-07:
* Monthly retirement payment: $3,086.80
* “Retired” in: 7/1/2000
* Total retirement benefit collected: $186,750.53
Yancey, Gary W.
Agency Name: Okaloosa Walton Community College
* Salary in 06-07: $120,750.00
* Monthly retirement payment: $3,286.71
* “Retired” in: 2/1/2005
* Total retirement benefit collected: $18,640.19