Eight years on the job gets you a pension

July 15, 2015

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I've been keeping lists of City of Lansing retirees since 2010, one for each of the City's two retirement systems, the Employees' Retirement System (ERS) and the Police and Fire Retirement System (P&F). I've also posted several stories about the generous provisions of the P&F system. Police and firefighters can retire at any age with 25 years of service, and the pension multiplier is 3.2%. But part of the reason I've focused mainly on the P&F system is that it is relatively uncomplicated. Although three bargaining units are involved - IAFF, FOP supervisory and FOP non-supervisory - the pension rules are the same for all.

 

I've focused on the P&F system because it is less work for me. Figuring out ERS can make your head hurt.

 

With ERS, the pension rules vary with bargaining unit - there are 5 of them - as well as hire date and "Old Plan/New Plan," a concept no one seems to be able to explain (see last 2 paragraphs on page 1 of the May 23, 2013 minutes of the Employees' Retirement System board meeting). These variations have accumulated over 30 or so years of collective bargaining. A description of ERS plan provisions starts on page 10 of the 2013 actuarial valuation report.

 

What is clear is that a lot of these employees are retiring with very few years of service. The chart below was created by copying the chart from this page and highlighting the service amounts of those who retired with less than 25 years of service. I also removed those who got pensions due to disability or death. FAC, multiplier and pension amount were obtained for some retirees before the state legislature banned public employers from releasing that information. Salary is what they were making in 2010 (hourly rate multiplied by 2080).

 

The reason ERS employees are retiring with so little service is that some can retire at age 58 with only 8 years of service. Others with at least 8 years of service can retire when the sum of their age and service is 65. The City of Lansing is a good place for older workers to apply for a job;  you can start at age 50 and retire at 58. Your pension might not amount to much with so little service, but you do get health insurance for yourself and your dependents for the rest of your life.

 

 

Name

Dept

BU

Retirement
Date

Age

Total
Service

Purch/RRA
Service

FAC

Multi-
plier

Pension

Salary

 

 Donald A. Ballard Parks T214 1/15/2010 58 31 y 2 m

 

$95,683

2.80%

$83,499

$92,082

 

 Robert Ruigh Fin T580 3/6/2010 57 5 y 10 m

R27 y 2 m

 

  

 

 $58,989

 

 Teresa M. Moran PS UAW 3/13/2010 52 25 y 0 m

 

 

  

 

 

FD

 Sharon H. Bommarito HR Exec 4/1/2010 58 9 y 9 m

 

 

  

 

 $41,246

 

 Michael Rouse Parks UAW 4/1/2010 50 25 y 2 m

 

 

  

 

 $38,584

 

 Edward Simons PS UAW 4/16/2010 50 29 y 0 m

 

 

  

 

 $38,584

 

 Jesus G. Gonzales CG UAW 4/17/2010 66

13 y 8 m

 

 

  

 

  $31,158

 

 Richard L. Wilkins Fin T580 Sup 5/1/2010 62 10 y 0 m

 

 

  

 

 $56,118

 

 Thomas Korkoske Fin T214 Sup 5/15/2010 53 32 y 1 m

 

 $97,611 2.80% $96,757 $94,411

 

 Scott Watson PS UAW 5/15/2010 51 27 y 0 m

 

 

  

 

 $38,584

 

 Tom Trayler PS UAW 5/28/2010 62 15 y 4 m

 

 $43,213 2.75% $18,221 $41,246

 

 Rosemarie Rosas F/C T580 CTP 6/1/2010 44 23 y 9 m

 

 

  

 

 $39,396

 

 Annette Hein PS UAW 6/2/2010 52 26 y 8 m

 

 

  

 

 $38,584

 

 Mikel Myers PS UAW 6/7/2010 58 11 y 1 m

 

 

  

 

 $35,027

RI

 Oscar G. Mazuka Parks UAW 6/15/2010 58 20 y 5 m

 

 

  

 

 $38,584

 

 Ratana Hayes F/C T580 CTP 6/22/2010 49 22 y 1 m

P2 y

 

  

 

 $40,622

 

 Shawn Farnum DC Exempt 6/26/2010 47 20 y 4 m

 

 

  

 

 

 

 Leslie Snyder DC Teamster 6/26/2010 44 y 5 m 20 y 7 m

P1 m

 

  

 

 

 

 Craig Wilson Fin T580 Sup 6/26/2010 52 26 y 4 m

 

 

  

 

 $57,096

 RI

 Denise Packer P/C T580 CTP 6/27/2010 59 27 y 2 m

 

 

  

 

$42,598

 

 Clifford Mansfield PS T580 Sup 6/28/2010 52 28 y 7 m

 

 

  

 

 $63,045
  John Kutt     6/30/2010 53 y 2 m 32 y 9 m 3 y 6 m $78,704 2.80% $72,172 $76,814

 

 Cheryl Hill PS  UAW 6/30/2010 48 27 y 3 m

 

 

  

 

 $31,158

 

 Robert Welling PS T580 Sup 6/30/2010 58 25 y 5 m

 

 

  

 

 $54,371

 

 Robert Antekeier PS T580 Sup 7/1/2010 52 26 y 4 m

P5 y

 $84, 534 2.80% $62,330 $63,045

RI

 Jimmy L. Butt, Jr. P/C T580 CTP 7/1/2010 57 24 y 6 m

 

$68,737

2.80%

$47,154

$63,045

RI

 Carl A. Calille Plan UAW 7/1/2010 49 27 y 3 m

 

 

  

 

 $44,221

 

 Esther Croff Fin T580 CTP 7/1/2010 57 23 y 1 m

P3 y

 

  

 

 $40,662

RI

 Ronald L. Detlzer PS T580 Sup 7/1/2010 51 31 y 0 m

 

 

  

 

 $49,254

RI

 Estella Escamilla Fin T580 CTP 7/1/2010 47 28 y 4 m

P3 y

 

  

 

 $44,637

RI

 Richard Hansel PS  UAW 7/1/2010 59 20 y 3 m

 

 

  

 

 $38,584

RI

 Paul Hayes PS T580 Sup 7/1/2010 51 24 y 10 m

 

 

  

 

 $60,008

 

 Steven Hudson PS  UAW 7/1/2010 53 31 y 0 m

P2 y

 

  

 

  $44,221

RI

 Sharon Johnson Plan UAW 7/1/2010 57 29 y 2 m

 

 

  

 

 $38,584

RI

 Christine Kutt Fin T580 CTP 7/1/2010 52 33 yr 6 m

P3 y

 $50,648 2.80% $47,508 $44,637

RI

 John Lenhard Parks T580 CTP 7/1/2010 54 25 y 1 m

 

 

  

 

 

RI

 Denise Lynch Parks T580 CTP 7/1/2010 58 26 y 2 m

P3 y

 $56,180 2.80% $41,161 $54,371

RI

 William H. Martin, Jr. PS  UAW 7/1/2010 55 25 y 0 m

 

 

  

 

 $38,584

RI

 Geralyn J. McClymont Plan UAW 7/1/2010 61 22 y 1 m

 

 

  

 

 $38,584

RI

 Kim Mingus Fin T580 Sup 7/1/2010 54 23 y 2 m

 

 $76,352 2.80% $53,098 $73,091

RI

 Suzanne Moore Plan T580 CTP 7/1/2010 55 29 y 5 m

 

 

  

 

  $46,842

RI

 Robin L. Osterhaven DC Exempt 7/1/2010 51 20 y 6.5 m

 

 

  

 

 

RI

 Edward L. Monroe Fin UAW 7/1/2010 61 24 y 10 m

 

 $53,308 2.75% $36,405 $47,091

RI

 Jamie Peterson DC Teamster 7/1/2010 53 24 y 11 m

 

 

  

 

 

RI

 David Phelps PS UAW 7/1/2010 55 30 y 10 m

 

 

  

 

 $38,584

 

 Rick Reed PS T580 Sup 7/1/2010 51 33 y 0 m

P5 y

 

  

 

  $49,254

RI

 John  M. Roberts, Jr. Law Non-BU Sup 7/1/2010 66 24 y 4 m

 

 $102,872 2.80% $70,090 $102,211

RI

 Mark A. Russ PS T580 Sup 7/1/2010 51 24 y 8 m

 

 

  

 

  $49,254

RI

 Eric Stinson Parks UAW 7/1/2010 61 15 y 10 m

 

 

  

 

 $38,584

 

 Sue Podleski Law T214 7/1/2010 52 25 y 0 m

P4 y 8 m

 

  

 

 $47,216

 

 Bonita Schade P/C T580 CTP 7/16/2010 66 15 y 0 m

 

 

  

 

 $36,941

FD

 Wendy S. Dipenhourst HR T580 7/1/2010 58 9 y 11 m

 

 

  

 

 

 

 Donnie Cotton PS UAW 8/14/2010 51 25 y 0 m

 

 

  

 

 $44,762

 

 Terese Horn CCS   8/27/2010 58 22 y 10 m

 

 $61,995 2.80% $39,780 $60,466

 

 John Hodges Plan T580 9/29/2010 61 14 y 2 m

P5 y

 $59,389 1.80% $12,828 $60,008

FD

 Linda M. Gazella MS   9/13/2010 58 11 y 0 m

 

 

  

 

 

65

 James VanAmburg PS T580 Sup 11/13/2010 55 23 y 2 m

 

 

  

 

 $54,371

 

 Kathleen A. Evans 911   11/20/2010 61 15 y 1 m

 

 

  

 

 $46,862

FD

 Lois J. Hill P/C T580 1/1/2011 58 14 y 4 m

 

 

  

 

 

 

 Steven G. Maloney Plan T580 6/27/2011 59 23 y 9 m

 

 

  

 

 $54,371

65

 Carla Eno Plan T580 7/1/2011 47 21 y 2 m

 

 

  

 

 $69,576

 

 Sandra M. Schultz 911 911 7/1/2011 53 23 y 1 m

R5.58 y

 

  

 

 $46,259

65

 Susan M. Topping Fin T580 7/1/2011 56 24 y 9 m

 

 

  

 

  $69,576

 

 Richard J. Berends Fin T580 7/1/2011 67 11 y 11 m

 

 

  

 

 $54,371

 

 Michael Haley PS UAW 7/1/2011 60 21 y 0 m

 

 

  

 

 $38,584

FD

 Timothy J. May Parks T580 8/1/2011 58 8 y 4 m

 

 

  

 

 

 

 Charles A. Shaffer Fin UAW 9/9/2011 58 25 y 7 m

 

 

  

 

  $44,221

65

 Daniel E. Abercrombie P/C T580 9/15/2011 44 21 y 3 m

 

 

  

 

 $46,842

 

 John H. Kloosterman Plan T580 9/16/2011 62 9 y 4 m

 

 

  

 

  $60,008

 

 James Bancroft Fin UAW 9/19/2011 58 24 y 7 m

 

 

  

 

 $38,584

 

 Douglas A. Chambers Fin T580 10/22/2011 63 21 y 9 m

 

 

  

 

 $54,371

65o

 Michelle Reddish P/C T214 12/27/2011 48 21 y 11 m

 

 

  

 

 $52,083

65o

 Elaine M. Kellicut Plan NonBU 1/7/2012 57 26 y 0 m

 

 

  

 

 $79,726

 

 Frederick Kopf Fin T580 1/20/2011 68 20 y 3 m

P5 y

 

  

 

  $60,008

 

 Gerald Ambrose Fin Exec 1/21/2012 52 6 y 1 m

R21 y 6 m

 

  

 

 $107,765

FD

 Walter Norris, Jr. Hous Exec 2/1/2012 66 8 y 7 m

 

 

  

 

 

65o

 Kelly Baylis Fin R580 2/17/2012 45 21 y 0 m

 

 

  

 

  $46,842

65o

 Julie M. Mannino Parks T580 2/24/2012 51 21 y 7 m

 

 

  

 

 $42,598

FD

 Liane M. Zimny CD Teamster 3/1/2012 58 9 y 0 m

 

 

  

 

 

65o

 Carleen J. Teigeler DC T580 3/10/2012 62 26 y 4 m

 

 

  

 

 

 

 Mary Moore Parks UAW 4/1/2012 59 12 y 8 m

 

 

  

 

  $35,027

 

 Terry L. Ulrich   UAW 4/15/2012 65 18 y 0 m

 

 

  

 

 $38,584

 

 James R. Elliott PS UAW 4/21/2012 58 23 y 4 m

 

 

  

 

 $47,091

 

 Victor Rose PS Exempt 4/21/2012 56 6 y 9 m

R28 y 4 m

 

  

 

 $83,782

65o

 Bruce O. Gaukel 911 T214 4/21/2012 46 26 y 5 m

 

 

  

 

 $77,397

FD

 Victoria A. Murdock Fin Teamster 5/1/2012 58 8 y 3 m

 

 

  

 

 

FD

 Melanie Pollard P/C FOP 911 5/1/2012 61 7 y 1 mo

R5 y 1 m

 

  

 

 

65o

 Jean A. Proseus DC Teamster 5/12/2012 63 22 y 4 m

 

 

  

 

 

65o

 Carol L. Walton P/C T580 6/4/2012 43 24 y 4 m

 

 

  

 

$35,027

65o

 Ruth Rasdale 911 T580 6/15/2012 48 25 y 0 m

 

 

  

 

  $63,045

 

 Adrian Gilbert Fin UAW 6/15/2012 54 26 y 0 m

 

 

  

 

 $38,584

 

 Steven M. Hoard PS UAW 6/16/2012 58 24 y 3 m

 

 

  

 

 $47,091

65o

 Tammy Sjolund Law T214 6/17/2012 45 23 y 7 m         $44,990
  Kate Barrier Plan T580 7/7/2012 61 17 y 6 m        

$57,096
  Clifford Ansley PS UAW 7/14/2012 64 17 y 4 m         $41,246
  Steven Austin PS UAW 9/7/2012 61 15 y 1 m        

 $38,584
  Connie Norris Parks UAW 10/5/2012 59 11 y 9 m         $24,939
  Terry Shattuck PS UAW 10/27/2012 62 20 y 11 m         $41,246
FD Jeffrey E. Bartem Plan Teamster 11/1/2012 58 26 y 3 m          
  Rickford Wilson Plan UAW 11/1/2012 54 26 y 3 m         $31,158
  Karl Holz PS UAW 11/3/2012 57 26 y 9 m         $41,246
  Thomas R. Vankuiken PS T580 11/24/2012 56 31 y 3 m         $63,045
FD Laura M. Toebe Fin Teamster 12/1/2012 58 8 y 6 m          
65o Carol Ballard DC Teamster 12/1/2012 61 26 y 7 m          
FD Robert Childs PS UAW 12/1/2012 58 16 y 11 m          
  Dawn R. Hufnagel P/C T580 12/1/2012 44 23 y 11 m         $40,622
  James W. McCue PS T214 12/1/2012 58 18 y 4 m         $57,512
  Marsha L. Scott Parks UAW 12/19/2012 58 20 y 4 m         $41,246
  Rose L. Taylor Plan UAW 12/19/2012 50 27 y 1 m         $38,584
FD/65 Thomas J. Blanc PS Teamster 1/1/2013 48 18 y 8 m          
FD Cynthia A. Currie 911 FOP 1/1/2013 58 14 y 9 m          
  Gregory G. Klco PS Teamster 1/18/2013 56 34 y 4 m         $75,275
  Marichand Neves PS Teamster 1/18/2013 51 25 y 4 m         $57,096
  Brian Sipperley PS Teamster 1/19/2013 50 30 y 9 m         $57,096
  Thomas A. Wendt Fin Teamster 1/23/2013 65 14 y 0 m 2 y 8 m       $57,096
65o Joseph Diaz 911 FOP 1/26/2013 42 y 5 m 22 y 7 m 1 m       $54,371
  C. Carnell Walker PS Teamster 1/25/2013 54 25 y 1 m         $60,008
FD Charles M. Creamer Council Elected 2/1/2013 58 8 y 0 m          
FD Margaret Vroman Law Elected 2/1/2013 58 8 y 6 m          
FD Linda Pitts Police Teamster 2/1/2013 58 12 y 5 m          
FD Harry James PS UAW 2/1/2013 58 14 y 5 m          
  George Milekovich PS UAW 2/18/2013 51 31 y 7 m         $47,091
  Florence W. Jones Clerk Teamster 3/30/2013 62 9 y 6 m         $40,662
  Joyce L. Norin Fin Teamster 4/12/2013 62 17 y 5 m 5 y       $60,008
  Christine Segerlind Plan Teamster 4/12/2013 65 15 y 3 m         $99,216
  Barbara Jo Letherby Fin Teamster 4/19/2013 61 16 y 8 m         $46,842
  William Fuller PS Teamster 4/27/2013 53 32 y 5 m         $47,091
  Brenda Jodway Plan Teamster 5/1/2013 61 12 y 4 m         $40,622
65o Frank Eirosius Plan Teamster 5/1/2013 57 12 y 6 m         $70,117
FD Clarence W. Osborne, Jr. Fin Teamster 5/1/2013 58 1 y 11 m 22 y 2 m        
  Gary L. Noback PS Teamster 6/1/2013 59 24 y 10 m         $51.709
  Arnold Yerxa Council Exempt 6/15/2013 64 9 y 9 m         $91,957
  Gunars Liepins PS UAW 6/15/2013 61 18 y 5 m         $47,091
  Tracy C. Hammond, Sr. PS UAW 6/29/2013 63 15 y 11 m         $38,584
  Phillip Wilson PS UAW 8/17/2013 58 23 y 6 m 5 y 0 m       $38,584
  Dave White PS Teamster 9/14/2013 52 28 y 1 m         $49,254
  Douglas L. Hulbert PS UAW 9/21/2013 63 16 y 6 m         $41,246
  John E. Kersjes PS UAW 9/21/2013 51 25 y 0 m 1 y 0 m       $47,091
  Mark Snyder PS UAW 9/27/2013 54 34 y 0 m 10 y 7 m       $44,221
  Jeffrey L. Mills Fin UAW 10/1/2013 61 20 y 5 m         $44,221
  David E. Gladstone P/C Teamster 10/2/2013 54 26 y 5 m 5 y 0 m       $46,842
  John Busley PS Teamster 10/25/2013 58 17 y 6 m         $44,221
  Edgar Loring PS UAW 11/1/2013 52 25 y 2 m         $44,221
  Robert J. Rose PS Teamster 11/15/2013 55 26 y 7 m         $60,008
  Dayne Miller PS UAW 11/15/2013 65 10 y 7 m         $35,027
  Edgar Loring PS UAW 11/15/2013 52 25 y 2 m         $17,160
65o Chaundra Pratt DC Teamster 11/15/2013 43 23 y 1 m          
  William E. Heighland PS UAW 12/21/2013 53 25 y 4 m         $41,246
FD Richard Michalewicz PS UAW 1/1/2014 62 9 y 2 m         $41,246
  Amy Frasier HR Teamster 1/4/2014 61 10 y 3 m         $66,206
  Barry Farhat PS UAW 1/13/2014 62 8 y 3 m         $35,901
  Glen A. Feldpaush Fin Teamster 1/19/2014 58 11 y 4 m 1 y 0 m       $60,008
  Daniel J. Curtin Fin Teamster 2/15/2014 58 24 y 2 m 1 y 7 m       $54,371
FD Mark Colby Fin Teamster 3/1/2014 58 15 y 10 m         $69,576
  Jane Dykema PS Teamster 3/15/2014 56 25 y 0 m 4 y 3 m       $81,349
  Nancy L. McNamara PS UAW 5/14/2014 60 20 y 0 m         $31,158
  Robert Meyers PS UAW 5/17/2014 59 24 y 7 m         $44,221
  Douglas Halstead Plan Teamster 5/31/2014 74 15 y 1 m         $57,096
  Troy Wood PS UAW 6/14/2014 50 27 y 0 m         $44,221
FD Ronnie Farmer Transp UAW 6/1/2014 59 9 y 4 m          
  Sandraetta Benn PS UAW 6/14/2014 59 12 y 5 m         $38,584
  Deborah G. Welch Transp UAW 6/27/2014 59 16 y 0 m          
  Shelly A. Roberts Fire UAW 7/1/2014 58 20 y 5 m         $34,986
  Dorothy Boone Plan Non-BU Sup 8/1/2014 65 9 y 8 m         $97,240
  Paul E. Stokes PS Teamster 8/2/2014 55 30 y 6 m         $92,518
  Ralph L. Gregus Plan Teamster 8/30/2014 65 18 y 1 m         $57,096
  Stephanie Robinson Fin Teamster 9/7/2014 59 10 y 10 m         $54,371
  Guillermo Z. Lopez HR Teamster 9/13/2014 64 23 y 8 m         $60,008
  Robert G. Pfund PS UAW 9/13/2014 53 25 y 0 m 1 y 5 m       $38,584
  Richard Stoudt PS UAW 9/13/2014 59 27 y 0 m         $47,091
  Terry Thelen PS UAW 9/13/2014 54 29 y 0 m         $47,091
  Stan S. Shuck PS UAW 9/15/2014 55 25 y 0 m 2 m       $38,584
  David G. Kos PS UAW 9/23/2014 64 27 y 7 m         $44,221
  Charles C. Hinton PS UAW 9/24/2014 55 25 y 0 m 3 m       $41,246
  Barbara Childs Plan UAW 9/27/2014 62 19 y 9 m         $30,222
  Maria Villarreal Plan UAW 9/27/2014 67 15 y 3 m         $31,158
  Earleane Brodie PS UAW 9/30/2014 59 24 y 6 m         $31,158
  Steven Hooks PS UAW 9/30/2014 62 20 y 1 m         $41,246
  Thomas E. Weber PS Teamster 10/1/2014 62 11 y 3 m         $73,091
FD Stephanie L. Whitbeck HRCS Teamster 11/1/2014 64 12 y 11 m          
  Katherine Lipsky PS Teamster 11/1/2014 60 11 y 1 m         $40,622
  Ronna Shively Police Teamster 12/5/2014 66 11 y 2 m         $36,941
  Henry Forbush PS Teamster 12/13/2014 53 29 y 3 m         $60,008
  Leroy Barber PS UAW 1/24/2015 58 16 y 7 m         $38,584
FD Catherine Brechtelsbauer HR Teamster 4/1/2015 58 8 yr 0 m R2 y 6 m        
  Michael C. Payne Fin Teamster 4/1/2015 62 26 y 11 m         $73,091
  Darren E. Rogers PS UAW 4/4/2015 50 29 y 4 m         $44,221
  Milton Alston Parks Teamster 4/15/2015 62 21 y 7 m         $54,371
  Gregory Vansteel Transp UAW 5/8/2015 58 13 y 2 m         $31,158
  Sean C. Pierce PS UAW 5/23/2015 53 25 y 2 m         $44,221
  FD = from deferred;  left some time ago, but finally reached age when, combined with service total, qualified employee for a pension .
  65 = 65 points. Can retire when sum of age and service = 65.
  65o = 65 points, old plan. Can retire when sum of age and service = 65.
  RI = Retirement Incentive Program. So far, all I know about this is what it says in the 3/18/2010 ERS Board minutes: Finance Director Jerry Ambrose says "The program was cost neutral and aimed at employees who were either already eligible to retire or close to retirement. [He] outlined the provisions of the incentive: no health care premium share, purchase of service credits, buy-back of furlough days."

 

Send comments to stevenrharry@gmail.com.

 

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