The Douglas County Commission has sweetened the deal for employees close to retirement to try to convince some of them to leave earlier than planned.

“We feel like it’s a win-win,” said Assistant County Administrator Pam Madl.

Commissioners Monday morning approved the one-time plan that would allow retirees to keep paying lower health insurance premiums into their retirement.

Budget woes, including flat property values, have forced the county to consider position cuts to help balance the budget. This change would hopefully reduce the need for involuntary cuts.

Commissioners approved the retirement incentive plan when they were told administrators anticipated personnel costs savings would be at least $150,000 over five years.

“I think this is a good, progressive policy,” Commissioner Charles Jones said.

Madl said the incentive policy would reduce the possibility of having to make further personnel cuts, but no final decisions have been made.

The plan applies to county and district attorney’s office employees who are vested in the state’s retirement system and not paid by grant funding. Madl estimated 15 to 20 employees could qualify.

The county has 422 employees whose positions are not funded by grants.

The employees who accept this retirement can remain on the county’s health insurance plan for five years and still pay the employee premiums for the first five years instead of paying at the retiree premium rate.

For example, an employee would pay $183 per month if they retire early, rather than pay $535 per month at a typical retirement. Employees who qualify must decide to retire by Sept. 15 and leave the county by Dec. 31.

Madl said some of those positions could be filled with employees who come in at the beginning of the pay scale.

She said it was too early to tell which departments could be affected the most, but a few department leaders at Monday’s meeting voice support.

“Obviously, these are really valuable employees who have a lot of knowledge with their years,” Madl said. “Every department that loses people will be affected because with them goes the knowledge base.”

In another matter, commissioners did not take action on changing the procedure for issuing licenses to people who want to install septic systems.

Plumber Mike Capra, of Vito’s Plumbing, had asked commissioners to look at the procedure because it allows non-licensed plumbers to take a test to install the systems.

But Commissioner Bob Johnson said staff members had not reported problems with the procedure, and he advised Capra to take his concerns to the state level.