Board of Supervisors agree to cutting benefits for elected officials

Elected officials in San Bernardino County will see a drastic cut in their medical and retirement benefits beginning in the next term in order to bring the county budget in line.

On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors, at the request of Third District Supervisor Neil Derry, voted in favor of cutting certain benefits that were introduced in June 2007.

The benefits will no longer be available upon the commencement of the next term of office for elected officials.

The county will save $147,000 in the 2010-2011 fiscal year alone as a result, and the savings are expected to grow in coming years.

Derry said the board and other elected officials need to lead by example, since other county employees are having to forgo pay raises and facing a reduction in work hours come July 1.

"I think it's important that the Board of Supervisors and elected officials also make sacrifices," Derry said.

Fifth District Supervisor Josie Gonzales agreed.

"I believe this is one small thing we can do, and we must be prudent and responsible," Gonzales said.

She said the county should take even bigger steps, and that all board members should be looking at their districts to see where they could be trimming any fat to help bring the budget in line with the county's current economic state.

"It is imperative that this be only the beginning," Gonzales said.

Second District Supervisor Paul Biane was absent from Tuesday's meeting but issued the following statement: "I agree with the decision to end the enhanced benefits provided to all of the County's elected officials. However, this is only a first step in the Board's efforts to cut spending in light of the current economy and its significant impacts on the County budget. The Board must look for substantial ways to cut spending and reduce costs in our budget, and I look forward to working with my fellow Supervisors to identify other areas where significant reductions can be made."

In June 2007, the Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance allowing the county to put in place a benefits package that called for a county contribution of $596.15, on a biweekly basis, to one of two retirement plans for each elected official. In addition, the ordinance provided elected officials a biweekly stipend to cover the cost of a health plan of their choice.

Under the new ordinance, elected officials will receive a contribution of five percent of their base salary for their selected retirement plan. In addition, they will receive $230, on a biweekly basis, for health insurance coverage plus a medical plan subsidy ranging between $83.48 and $199.54, depending on the number of dependents each elected official is claiming.

The ordinance will go before the Board of Supervisors again on June 2 for a second reading.

BY THE NUMBERS:

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved an ordinance calling for the elimination of certain benefits for all elected officials in order to help shore up the county's budget gap. Third District Supervisor Neil Derry, who proposed the ordinance, abstained from the benefits upon his taking office. The following is a breakdown of how much will be saved, per supervisor, in the 2010-2011 fiscal year alone:
* First District -$13,319
* Second District -$31,318
* Third District -$16,018 (Forgone by Derry upon taking office)
* Fourth District -$30,745
* Fifth District -$24,469

joe.nelson@inlandnewspapers.com