Drafter
Clerk 06/06/2014
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AN ORDINANCE related to extending the 2012 and 2013 pilot program for 2014 through 2016 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.
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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 by the King County council. 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. The initial pilot has concluded, and the county executive has reported the following resulting benefits:
a. The avoidance of twenty-seven reductions in force;
b. The ability to better align resources and work programs with agency priorities, the opportunity to create critically needed positions and reported increases in productivity and flexibility; and
c. A conservative estimate of net cost savings of over one million dollars as a result of the pilot.
3. Because the initial pilot program to incent the voluntary separation of retirement eligible employees proved beneficial, the executive recommends that it be extended for further evaluation and the opportunity to generate additional cost savings.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. A. The executive is hereby authorized to extend, covering the period from the effective date of this ordinance through December 31, 2016, the pilot program providing an incentive for the voluntary separation of currently employed retirement-eligible employees in agencies identified by the executive, but only if:
1. The voluntary separation program will enable the agency to avoi...

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