Culver City : Ex-Officials to Get Subsidy

The City Council voted 3 to 2 to subsidize health insurance costs for former council members who do not qualify for retirement coverage under the city’s health benefit policy.

The subsidy, prompted by a letter from former Mayor Dick Brundo, will be equal to the amount paid retirees who qualify for continued coverage under the Public Employees Retirement System. This amount is now about $130 a month, according to personnel director Gordon Youngs.

Brundo, who does not qualify for retirement coverage because he was under age 50 when he left office, now pays about $350 per month for private insurance coverage, Youngs said.

“After 12 years of service, anyone who’s put that amount of time on the council has earned some benefit,” said Councilman Jim Boulgarides, who made the motion to subsidize his former political opponent.

But Councilman Paul Jacobs, who voted against the subsidy along with Councilman Steven Gourley, said that if the city were going to subsidize former council members, it should similarly subsidize city employees who don’t qualify under the current system.