Program Description

  Compensation and Employee Benefit Adjustments

This NDA contains a General Fund appropriation and a non-tax appropriation, and provides funding for certain personnel costs related to adjustments in employee and retiree benefits; pay-for-performance awards for employees in the Management Leadership Service, Police Leadership Service, and non-represented employees; deferred compensation management; and unemployment insurance.

Non-Qualified Retirement Plan: This provides funding for that portion of a retiree's benefit payment that exceeds the Internal Revenue Code's §415 limits on payments from a qualified retirement plan. Payment of these benefits from the County's Employees' Retirement System (ERS) would jeopardize the qualified nature of the County's ERS. The amount in this NDA will vary based on future changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) affecting benefit payments, new retirees with a non-qualified level of benefits, and changes in Federal law governing the level of qualified benefits.

Deferred Compensation Management: These costs are for management expenses required for administration of the County's Deferred Compensation program. Management expenses include legal and consulting fees, office supplies, printing and postage, and County staff support.

Management Leadership Service Performance-Based Pay Awards: In FY99, the County implemented the Management Leadership Service (MLS), which includes high-level County employees with responsibility for developing and implementing policy and managing County programs and services. The MLS was formed for a number of reasons, including improving the quality and effectiveness of service delivery through management training, performance accountability, and appropriate compensation; providing organizational flexibility to respond to organizational needs; allowing managers to seek new challenges; and developing and encouraging a government-wide perspective among the County's managers. In FY19, the County implemented the Police Leadership Service (PLS) to include lieutenants and captains in the Department of Police. MLS and PLS employees are not eligible for service increments. Performance-based awards for MLS and PLS employees are funded in FY25.

Unemployment Insurance: The County is self-insured for unemployment claims resulting from separations of service. Unemployment insurance is managed by the Office of Human Resources through a third party administrator who advises the County and monitors claims experience.