Deputies’ Pensions Exceed Salaries

Longtime Ventura County sheriff’s deputies--pushing for expanded retirement benefits--already are entitled to more pay in retirement than they earn on the job, a Times analysis shows.

A 55-year-old deputy on the job for 30 years can retire now and take home $69,000 in annual retirement pay--106% of his or her active wages.

And if the county Board of Supervisors agrees to the latest demand by the deputies union, that same officer would collect $79,000 a year, or 122% of base pay.

Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn., called the pension benefit an “outrageous scam.” Over time, he said, it can pose a financial nightmare for the county’s treasury.

“When you are giving more than what they made when they were working, from a taxpayer perspective that is absolutely nonsustainable and absurd,” Coupal said.

The proposal by Ventura County’s deputies is by no means unique. Officers in more than 155 law enforcement agencies across California have won similar pension enhancements in the last two years.

What they’re after is a benefit called “3% at 50,” under which deputies can retire at 50 and receive 3% of their pay for every year of service. The current standard is 2%.

Paying for that 50% increase can be costly--and some governments are putting up a fight.

L.A. County Deputies at Impasse on Issue

In Los Angeles County, sheriff’s deputies have pushed for the new benefit for more than a year. The deputies union last week declared an impasse on the issue and will seek nonbinding arbitration, labor officials said.

Los Angeles Police Department officers also pushed hard for the benefit but were unable to win it, said Lt. Ken Hillman, a union spokesman. But voters in June approved an enhancement that gives a 90% pension after 33 years. Hillman said the union plans to push for 3% at 50 again next year.

San Diego County supervisors approved the package for its deputies in July, and Orange County sheriff’s deputies won the benefit last month.

In Ventura County, deputies can further pump up retirement wages by tacking on credits for medical benefits, education incentives, uniform allowances and other perks to their final year’s salary.

The result for longtime deputies is a pension check equal to or, in some cases, greater than what they earned while working.

The Times analyzed data provided by County Executive Officer Johnny Johnston to come up with the figures. The resulting numbers were confirmed by the county’s Retirement Department.

A spokesman for the deputies does not dispute the calculations.

But Glen Kitzmann, president of the Ventura County Deputy Sheriffs’ Assn., said the increase is necessary to keep benefits on par with pensions for the California Highway Patrol and other local law enforcement agencies.

“We’re asking for a benefit that is comparable with what other agencies have. It has a cost,” Kitzmann said. “And if you want to continue to have top-notch public safety, there is a cost for that.”

Deputies aren’t eligible for Social Security benefits, Kitzmann noted.

Increase Would Exceed CHP Benefit

The plan sought by Ventura County deputies would put them a notch above retirement pay for CHP officers, whose benefits may not exceed 90% of their final compensation.

In January, the 90% rule will apply to all law enforcement officers enrolled in the California Public Employees Retirement System.

In Ventura County, the bonanza would most likely not be limited to rank-and-file deputies. Sheriff Bob Brooks and his managers would probably receive any new benefits won by the deputies union, because an agreement guarantees supervisors’ pay will keep pace with lower-ranked deputies.

For example, Undersheriff Craig Husband would receive $136,656, compared with the $91,104 to which he is currently entitled, the analysis shows. Sheriff’s captains, commanders and chiefs are also in line for significant increases.

“I certainly think if the union gets that benefit that managers should also enjoy it,” said Brooks, 51.

The pension enhancement is quickly becoming the industry standard, and Ventura County will lose its ability to attract quality applicants for the Sheriff’s Department if it does not follow suit, Brooks said.

“It’s pretty much a necessity for us,” he said.

Ventura County Is Resisting Increase

Ventura County’s deputies have been fighting for the new benefit since their contract expired Jan. 1. County negotiators have resisted, saying that the county would have to dip into the general fund to meet the $53-million cost of paying benefits to 850 deputies and district attorney’s investigators.

The amount could reach $100 million if sheriff’s managers and firefighters were included, Johnston said. Their contract comes up for renewal next year.

“They’re not asking for average pay and benefits. They are asking for better than average pay and benefits,” he said.

Deputies point to a $342-million surplus in the county’s retirement fund as evidence that the money is available. They have also offered to pay for the benefit by deducting its cost from deputies’ future wages.

Johnston said the retirement surplus will evaporate quickly, because other county employees will demand a share. A recent actuarial study shows that if true, the county would have to pay $41 million annually into the retirement fund by 2008 to cover the cost.

The county currently makes no payments to the retirement fund.

If deputies paid for the benefit, Johnston said, the cost would fall most heavily on new recruits. Starting deputies would see an estimated 17% reduction in their pay, while more than 200 deputies approaching retirement age would end up paying very little, he said.

“I’m not willing to bargain away something that disproportionately benefits a few,” he said.

Taxpayers Group Altered Position

After initially supporting the deputies’ demands, the Ventura County Taxpayers Assn. last week changed its position. Deputies should get the benefit, but only if they pay for it and only if applies to future years of service, said Don Facciano, the group’s executive director.

Kitzmann has vowed to ratchet up the battle in coming weeks.

At a meeting last week, deputies overwhelmingly authorized union leaders to take any step they deem necessary to win a contract, including sickouts, blue flu or a strike.

Strikes are illegal for law enforcement officers in California, but the union believes there may be a loophole in that law.

Gov. Gray Davis signed legislation that allowed law enforcement officers who participate in the California Public Employees Retirement System to negotiate for the benefit beginning in January 2000. The following year, officers in other retirement systems won the right

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Retirement Benefits

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