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Saturday, August 22, 2015

Worcester County poised to slash retirement benefits

The possibility of increasing the health insurance co-pay for dependents of future retirees or eliminating altogether Worcester County government’s provision of that benefit to new hires remains on the table, as the county commissioners on Tuesday continued to discuss what kind of coverage it might offer new employees.

Back in May, the commissioners voted 5-2 to change the cost-share ratio for employees hired after July 1 from the 90-10 split available to current employees to an 80-20 share.

Voting against that measure were Commissioners Joe Mitrecic and Jim Bunting, with Mitrecic contending that the county should cover the retiree only and not his or her dependents.

“I don’t think the county should be in the business of providing health care to spouses and dependents of retirees, but I am willing to negotiate and compromise,” Commissioner Joe Mitrecic said this week.

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11 comments:

Anonymous said...

First time I've EVER agreed with Joe Metricic ,.., he is correct.

Anonymous said...

Mitrecic is absolutely right.

Anonymous said...

This needs to be addressed in Wicomico too. Creamer won't let it happen because he is a double dipping abuser of the system and is protecting his buddies. Cannon has no guts to go against him. Culver needs to tackle this now, before the next election. Wicomico is going broke. The benefits package is ridiculous. We can't afford it.

Anonymous said...

I agree. Why should taxpayers pay for insurance for any dependents? It should only be the employee and then they can pay for their own family.

Anonymous said...

The board of ed does not pay for retiree dependent s insurance.

Anonymous said...

I agree also that Culver should be making sure that the taxpayers are not paying for dependents insurance in any way, shape or form. I work hard enough as a business owner to pay for my own health insurance =, which by the way is over $600.00 a month for just me alone. If i can pay for my insurance, they certainly can pay for their own insurance for their families.

Anonymous said...

1:30 I'm with you. As a self employed person I have paid the high rates for health insurance for me and my family and we taxpayers should not have to contribute to the insurance for the families.

Anonymous said...

I agree with 1.30 and 2.12

If you really want to get irritated you should see the amount of comp time for the so called supervisors in wicomico county government.This enables them to build tons of vacation time. Just figure 30 minutes a day comp time that adds up to 3 and a half weeks at years end.Not a bad job at 50k to 62k k a year to polish a seat and pass the buck from uptown to downtown.

Anonymous said...

This article and the complaining business owner comments is proof of the need for a single payer system in this country not dependent on employment that covers all of us very much like medicare.
Wealthy people who want more can pay for more from an insurance compasny.This would be different and better than Obamacare covering all of us. We would pay for it with our taxes but there is no free lunch.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
This needs to be addressed in Wicomico too. Creamer won't let it happen because he is a double dipping abuser of the system and is protecting his buddies. Cannon has no guts to go against him. Culver needs to tackle this now, before the next election. Wicomico is going broke. The benefits package is ridiculous. We can't afford it.

August 22, 2015 at 9:24 AM

The County pensions are not what is breaking the County you fool. Over spending on unneeded projects and to many employees are hurting this county. The biggest problem is the out of control school board.

Bob Culver is no better. He keeps hiring employees that are not needed and paying to much for new department heads instead of cutting their salaries. Bob Culver is also hiring a grant writer and several employees for that office. WTF!! Yes that is Bob Culver your HERO. Wayne Stausburg and Sharon Morris are still there.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
1:30 I'm with you. As a self employed person I have paid the high rates for health insurance for me and my family and we taxpayers should not have to contribute to the insurance for the families.

August 22, 2015 at 2:12 PM

Well good for you, but we are comparing apples to oranges. You have your own business and we are the business that needs to make sure we can recruit and retain good employees. obviously you can't comprehend.