Pay Extensions for Reservists Expected

Ventura County government employees called to military service in coming months would be entitled to supplemental salary and benefits under a plan the Board of Supervisors will debate today.

The $210,000 proposal is intended to ensure that 100 county government employees in the military reserves do not suffer a pay cut if called to duty in the U.S.-led war against terrorism.

County Executive Officer Johnny Johnston is recommending that supervisors supplement military pay for two months and continue county-provided health benefits for up to six months.

“We are trying to stabilize their income for a 60-day period while this all sorts out,” Johnston said. “We hope this softens the financial impact on families if they are shipped out.”

Cities across Ventura County have already approved similar benefits or intend to do so in coming weeks. Most have only a handful of reservists.

Last week, Thousand Oaks officials passed a resolution giving city employees full pay, minus military compensation, for whatever period they are called to duty.

Reservists and their dependents also qualify for city-provided health benefits for the same period, officials said.

Simi Valley offers a similar package. Camarillo officials will take their own proposal to the City Council on Oct. 24.

“Certainly for the younger reservists with families, it’s a great help to them,” said Camarillo Assistant City Manager Larry Davis, a retired reservist who served briefly in the Persian Gulf War. “It gives them peace of mind for their families.”

State law requires that employers pay the regular salaries and benefits of employees for 30 days after reservists are called to active duty and that employees be guaranteed a job when they return.

The county proposal goes beyond that, offering a salary supplement that equals roughly one-half the employee’s regular pay for an additional 30 days. County-provided health insurance would continue for five months more than state law mandates.

Supervisors in 1991 approved a five-month extension of medical benefits for employees called to active duty in the Persian Gulf. But that board rejected a proposal that the county supplement military pay.

The package supervisors will consider today is more generous and rightly so, county officials said.

“It is absolutely essential that we support these people,” Supervisor Steve Bennett said. “This is the proper approach. After 60 days we will have a better idea of what all the possible implications will be and how we can address this for the longer term.”

Oxnard Supervisor John Flynn said he, too, will vote in favor of the package.

“It’s the patriotic thing to do,” Flynn said. “I may be liberal, but I am a strong patriot. And we should do everything we can to keep their life as normal as possible.”

Fewer than 10 county employees have been called to active duty since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, said Jane Mahnken, deputy personnel director.

Half of the reservists hold positions in the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department but the others are spread across the 7,000-employee work force, she said.

Seven sheriff’s deputies have already been activated.

The union is waiving monthly dues for anyone called up and is thankful that supervisors will consider extending other benefits, said Glen Kitzmann, head of the sheriff’s deputy union.

“In a time like this, everybody needs to do their part to support our country,” he said. “The guys going off to serve their reserve time are doing their part. And the county needs to do its part by taking the financial burden off of the reservists.”

It will be a relief for the families left behind not to have to deal with changing insurance companies--and possibly, their doctors--during such a stressful time, Kitzmann said.

“You already have enough problems with insurance companies,” he said.

“To have to mess with that when your spouse is gone is just another headache.”

Times staff writer Tina Dirmann contributed to this report.