By Eric Stock
BLOOMINGTON – One day after Normal adopted an early retirement program to cut payroll, McLean County is looking to do the same.
The County Board on Tuesday unanimously approved a buyout option for some full-time employees. This comes at a time when the county plans to eliminate 20 full-time jobs in next year’s budget.
“It is our hope that we will be able to minimize the number of reductions in force, involuntary reductions in force by the voluntary retirement incentive program,” County Board administrator Bill Wasson said.
Wasson said close to 70 employee will be eligible for early retirement. Those who turn 55 and have at least 18 years of service by the end of the year would be eligible. He added the county hopes 10 to 20 of them will take the offer.
The county’s proposed $95 million budget for next year cuts spending for the first time in nearly a decade. It also includes across-the-board pay and hiring freezes.
“Unfortunately, the staffing reductions we recommend will likely result in longer lines for service, expanded automated phone answering and requirements for appointments for some types of county services,” Wasson told the board in the annual budget proposal review.
Wasson added three of the county’s four bargaining units are up for negotiations this year and the county intends to seek pay freezes for them also.
The budget proposal will be reviewed by various County Board committees before a scheduled vote in November.
Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].
