Supervisors Reject Attempt to End Perk

A divided Ventura County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday rejected a push to eliminate a lucrative retirement perk for the county’s six elected managers after the majority said the officials deserved the extra pay.

Supervisors John Flynn, Judy Mikels and Frank Schillo blocked Supervisor Steve Bennett’s attempt to end the county’s practice of allowing the officials to inflate their pension earnings just before retirement by adding a vacation bonus.

The benefit has been condemned by taxpayer advocates and two citizen committees appointed by the Board of Supervisors to review salary and benefit packages.

But the majority argued that because appointed managers receive the benefit, elected department heads should get it too. As they explained their vote, the three supervisors took turns praising the work of the county’s elected managers.