Remember
Yorba Linda's Measure JJ on the November 2014 ballot?
The
wording was simple: “Shall the ordinance prohibiting City Council
members serving future council terms from receiving pension benefits
and health care benefits be adopted?”
And the
“yes” vote was overwhelming – 16,061 to 2,714 “no” – but
the matter became a political football both during and since last
year's recall and regular council elections, as candidates and
supporters argued endlessly over who would and who wouldn't be
affected.
Now with
the law on the books for nine months, I asked city Finance Director
Dave Christian to update salaries and benefits for sitting and
retired council members, including those who participate in the state
Public Employees Retirement System (PERS).
Here's
Christian's response, which clarifies who receives “cafeteria”
and pension benefits:
“All
five of the council members receive a monthly stipend of $500, a
monthly phone allowance of $36 (except Gene Hernandez, who opted out)
and a monthly car allowance of $100. The monthly stipend will
increase to $525 per month for councils seated on or after Dec. 3,
2014 (the current council was seated on Dec. 2, 2014).
“Tom
Lindsey, Mark Schwing and Craig Young are all members of PERS, and as
such contribute six percent of their stipend into the system. While
Measure JJ eliminated retirement benefits for newly elected (or
re-elected) council members going forward, Tom was already a member
of PERS, and as such they have dictated that he remain a member,
requiring contributions from both him and the city as normal.
“However,
Tom has given the city a signed statement indicating that he will not
file for retirement benefits from PERS upon his separation from
service with the city, thus complying with the intention of Measure
JJ.
“Council
members receiving the cafeteria plan benefit of $1,095 per month are
Gene Hernandez, Mark Schwing and Craig Young. Each have elected to
have this amount deposited into a deferred compensation account in
lieu of receiving health insurance benefits. Peggy Huang and Tom
Lindsey do not receive this benefit as a result of Measure JJ.
“The
city contributes 21 percent of pay into PERS for the three council
members mentioned above (Lindsey, Schwing and Young), who contribute
six percent themselves. The only council member receiving
dental/vision benefits from the city's self-insured plan is Mark
Schwing. The administrative fee remains the same at $9.20 per month.
All five...are included in the Employee Assistance Program at a cost
to the city of $3.02 per month each.
“The
city currently pays 95 percent of the medical insurance premium for
retired council members. This will increase to 100 percent in
January 2016 (subject to a ceiling of $1,167 per month). The new
monthly amounts for the three retired council members are Barbara
Kiley, $322.50; Hank Wedaa, $350.32; and Gene Wisner, $644.99.”