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After a multi-year push by labor unions, San Diego County has become the first county in California to implement a controversial pension plan that allows some staff to collect their salaries and pensions at the same time.
County supervisors voted Tuesday to create a deferred retirement option program, known as a DROP, for some retirement-age staffers in its Sheriff’s Office, District Attorney’s Office and Probation Department.
Under a DROP, enrolled employees start collecting a pension but also continue to work for up to three years. During that time, their pension payments are put into a special DROP account, and when they retire, it’s paid out to them in a lump sum.
“I think this is going to be a great tool to keep some of our best deputies working for the people,” Supervisor Joel Anderson said.
The board’s unanimous vote came weeks after pension-plan actuaries confirmed the program would be cost-neutral, as state law requires.
Still, such programs have drawn criticism. The city of San Diego’s is seen by critics as a way for public employees to “double-dip” into taxpayer money.
Others see a DROP as a way to retain experienced staff past the time they would normally retire.
“By retaining our most experienced employees for additional years, this program will save the county and the taxpayers millions of dollars,” said Michael O’Deane, president of the San Diego County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association, which first started lobbyin...
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