10/25/12 - Democrats running for various seats on the Livingston County Board of Commissioners presented information Wednesday about a 2003 retiree health care buy-out plan they say robbed taxpayers, while county officials counter that it has actually saved millions of dollars. Some Democrats challenging Republicans this November held a press conference Wednesday alleging commissioners received nearly $70,000 in taxpayer dollars by taking a questionable retire healthcare buyout in 2003. The offer allowed various elected and non-union employees to opt-out of the defined benefit retiree health care program and into a defined contribution health savings based on years of service. Democrats say it was inappropriate for part-time elected officials to get a full time benefit such as retire healthcare, especially those who accepted the buyouts but had healthcare from another source such as previous employer. Local Party Chairwoman Judy Daubenmier says some were eligible with only one year of service to the county, versus offers typically made to employees on the verge of qualifying for retiree benefits. She says the buy-outs amounted to $1.9 (m) million of taxpayer money and of those who accepted it, 116 employees had fewer than ten years of service to the county and 66 had fewer than five years. Democrats alleged that outgoing Commissioner Jack LaBelle was a key player in the plan but the county says an administrative team along with legal counsel developed its merits. LaBelle has 44 years of service to the county and is Michiganâs longest serving Commissioner. He declined to comment but did tell WHMI he had no part in developing the plan. County Administrator Belinda Peters says the boardâs goal was to reduce the cost of the retiree health care program to taxpayers and it was a success. She says the cost of the retiree health care program for non-union employees was $10.5 million in 2003 and it was reduced to zero, saving the taxpayers of Livingston County millions of dollars. Given the double digit healthcare inflation since 2003, Peters says the cost of the program for non-union employees would be millions of dollars higher today. The information provided by local Democrats was obtained through a FOIA request and can be viewed in the attachments below. (JM)
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