County eyes earlier retirement for probation officers
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The Chautauqua County Legislature is eyeing a proposal which would allow some Probation Department employees to retire earlier than they do right now.
Probation Department Director Gilbert Taylor met with members of the legislature's Administrative Services Committee to discuss a resolution regarding retirement plans for peace officers in the Probation Department.
The resolution states that the county and CSEA Unit 6300 have formally agreed to a 25-year retirement plan.
Taylor said one of the challenges his department has had is getting employees to stay. He said it's not uncommon for his officers to switch to other police agencies that offer retirement after 25 years of service.
Currently, the retirement age for probation officers is 62 years old.
Taylor said his office struggled with recruitment in general, in part because of the educational requirements probation officers have versus other law enforcement agencies.
"Our job doesn't allow you to come in unless you, minimum, have a bachelors (degree). They would like you to have a masters," he said.
Taylor said he believes if probation officers could retire after 25 years, it will slow down the exit from his department to other law enforcement agencies.
"The ages (of new employees) are going to be in the 20s - 24, 25, 26. And if they have to work until 62, it's not financially worth it to most of them. That's just an honest answer," he said.
The resolution notes that the New York State and Local Retirement System requires the county to adopt a resolution electing to assume the costs of providing the retirement plan.
Taylor said the state is offering a grant that will cover the costs for the first two years.
After that he said he is proposing to cut his staff. He said he has two part-time positions that will likely become vacant in the next three years, which won't be filled. He said the savings from those positions will cover the additional retirement costs.
Taylor said he also expects savings long-term because they won't be spending as much on training new employees because he believes staff will stay longer.
The Administrative Services Committee approved the resolution, which allows it to go before the full legislature for a final vote, which will take place on Wednesday.