New Controversy Over County Retirement Program

95 Fairfax County employees participating in a mandatory retirement plan and later returned to work for the county, the Washington Post reports.

The employees opted into the Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP), which allows workers eligible for retirement to stay at their jobs for three years while starting to accumulate retirement benefit deposits. At the end of the three years, however, the employees must retire.

Post reporter Frederick Kunkle found, however, that some employees returned to work for the county. Some of the returned workers could be earning over $100,000, while also receiving their retirement benefits and qualifying for limited health care.

“It’s the best thing since sliced bread,” one returned worker told the Post.

While some, including Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield) have called for changes to the retirement system, Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova (D) says program is not "overly-generous."

The DROP program was also an issue in November's election for county sheriff, when Republicans said incumbent Democratic Sheriff Stan Barry because he had participated in DROP and served his remaining three years. Barry was re-elected, but Republicans on the Board of Supervisors in January against raising Barry's salary.