The Peoria County Board will consider approving a Voluntary Retirement plan to help tackle a $3.5 million deficit next year. Officials say the goal is to get 40 employees to voluntarily retire, saving about $2 million. Peoria County Board member Andrew Rand says that both Board members and elected officials agreed to use an outside consultant to find more ways to save money:
“To give both of us some candid truth about the way government and services are being provided in Peoria County. And we may find some things that make us uncomfortable.”
County officials say that if not enough people sign-up for the retirement plan, nothing is off the table including layoffs.
The voluntary retirement plan would require the county to pay a lump sum and employee healthcare costs. The voluntary separation plan used in 2009 required the County to pay employee pension costs. The Board will also consider approving voluntary unpaid leave and a reduced work week. Another $1 million is proposed in fee increases for various services. The County Board takes up the proposed voluntary reductions on Thursday.