Drafter
Clerk 03/14/2018
Title
AN ORDINANCE related to establishing the voluntary separation program to incent the voluntary separation of retirement-eligible employees as a cost-saving measure and as necessary to minimize the number of employees subject to a reduction in force; and adding a new chapter to K.C.C. Title 3.
Body
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
1. Because significant budget shortfalls in key areas were identified for 2013 and forecasted for 2014, on November 16, 2012, Ordinance 17457 was enacted. The ordinance authorized the executive branch to pilot a voluntary separation program in 2012 and 2013 designed to incent retirement-eligible employees to voluntarily leave county employment. The desired result was to minimize the need for reductions in force and provide for cost savings and efficiencies.
2. To allow for further assessment of the program, a second pilot was conducted during the 2014-2016 biennium, as authorized by Ordinance 17833.
3. The county has completed the pilots, and the county executive has reported the following resulting benefits:
a. Twenty-seven proposed reductions in force were achieved in the 2012-2013 pilot and thirty-four proposed reductions in force were acheived in the 2014-2016 pilot;
b. Agencies were able to better align resources and work programs with agency priorities, to create critically needed positions and to increase in efficiencies and flexibility; and
c. Significant cost savings were acheived.
3. Because the pilot programs to incent the voluntary separation of retirement eligible employees proved beneficial, the executive recommends that the voluntary separation program be established as an ongoing program.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. Sections 2 and 3 of this ordinance should constitute a new chapter in K.C.C. Title 3.
SECTION 2. A. The executive is hereby authorized to establish a program in agencies identified by the executive that incentivizes retirement-eligible emplo...

Click here for full text