Broome Considers Early Retirement Incentives

Broome County lawmakers are considering further trimming of the government payroll through retirement incentives.

At it's last meeting, however, the legislature postponed a scheduled vote on the plan that would offer eligible employees $15,000 toward their retiree health insurance premiums. Employees not enrolled in the county health insurance program that want to retire under the proposal would get a $5,000 payout.

The measure was held over by Legislator Colleen McCabe, who wanted to look into providing the payout to county employees who just retired prior to the incentive legislation being place before lawmakers.

Other legislators argued the payout is meant to encourage county employees to retire and should not go to workers who have already retired.