Wachs Rips DWP Buyouts, Vows to Limit Others
Los Angeles City Councilman Joel Wachs on Monday criticized a plan that has provided cash incentives to 1,500 Department of Water and Power employees to take early retirement or resign, calling it an overly generous abuse of the system and vowing to limit similar buyout plans in the future.
In a press release, Wachs said he will introduce a motion this week for City Council approval to bar city employees who accept future buyout offers from returning to work for the city for three years unless they repay some of the cash incentive.
Wachs also wants to prevent future buyout plans from being offered to any employees whose position must be refilled in the “foreseeable future.”
Last week, DWP General Manager William McCarley announced the results of the buyout plan, calling it a big success because, although it will cost DWP $43 million, it will save the city-owned utility $80 million in salary and benefit payments annually.
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