Three take early leave option

Of the six higher-paid government employees who expressed initial interest in the county's early leave offer, only three opted to take it.

Taking those three off the payroll should save the county $250,000, County Commissioner John Druzbick said Friday.

That's still about half what the county had hoped to reap. The three who left are Garry Allen, director of technology services, Mark Caskie, interim code enforcement director, and Jerry Greif, chief planner.

Three others, ex-assistant county attorney Kent Weissinger, County Fire Chief Mike Nickerson and Budget Management Analyst Elaine Singer voluntarily took their names off the list.

Weissinger, who resigned last month, told Hernando Today his decision to opt out of the early leave plan was "very hasty and impulsive" and one that he will probably always regret.

County commissioners had hoped at least 10 percent of eligible employees would jump at the offer, which was made to the 116 employees who make $50,000 or more.

County Administrator David Hamilton said the plan was designed to cut $500,000 from the budget.

Commissioners are now debating other options, including the possibility of extending the early leave plan to all government employees, including those whose salaries are in the $30,000 range.

Meanwhile, commissioners have suspended the employee paid-time off program for 2010 in the hopes of saving money.

Human Resources Director Cheryl Marsden said the potential cost for paid time off is $366,134 and $51,871 for sick leave. Last year, $158,000 was paid out and the same can be expected by the end of this current fiscal year, she said.

Once employees bank 240 hours, they are eligible to receive 80 percent of their accrued paid time off - up to 80 hours annually.