By Howard Packowitz and WMBD-TV,
NORMAL – Some long-time workers for the Town of Normal will be offered early retirement packages after the town council approved the budget-cutting measure Monday night.
The council’s vote was unanimous, and our news partner WMBD-TV said there was no discussion before members authorized staff to offer buyouts to 18 eligible employees.
The non-union workers have about a month to notify the town if they’ll accept the retirement offer.
The package provides full health and dental insurance for a year, and financial incentives for the employees to leave their positions next March instead of later in 2018.
The workers must have put in 15 years of service, and will be at least 55-years old by the end of next year.
The town’s belt-tightening action comes as the town grapples with the loss of about $1.1 million a year after the City of Bloomington terminated the west side Metro Zone revenue sharing agreement.
“This is one step that we’re taking,” Normal City Manager Mark Peterson said. “There will be more as we go into the budget preparation process for next year. But this is one step we’re taking to kind of try and tighten our belt and reign in expenses to address this revenue issue.”
A financial trend and condition report presented to the town council two weeks ago detailed several other financial headwinds, including stagnant sales tax revenue and a $300,000 annual sales tax collection fee that the town will have to pay state government.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]
