Threat of nixed sick-time payout sends some police, firefighters packing

From the Santa Fe New Mexican.com - by Julie Ann Grimm and Geoff Grammer - Santa Fe police and fire managers will have one less perk if officials approve a policy change. At least three high-ranking police commanders already have filed paperwork for retirement and others are discussing doing so in the coming weeks. At issue is whether employees who are not part of a collective-bargaining union can get a payout for unused sick time when they retire. The sick-time buyback provision for managers has been around only a few years. It was touted as a way to reward public-service leadership tenure with incentives similar to those offered to rank-and-file union members. When councilors threatened to change another retirement policy in 2008, all four of the city's highest-ranking firefighters retired, citing loss of expected income as their main reason. Tuesday was the last day at the Santa Fe Police Department for Lt. Gerald Solano, a 21-year veteran of the police force. "That sick-time policy and talk of pay cuts, those are things that affect our retirement and cost us money if we don't take advantage of the benefits now," said Solano. His decision to leave will afford him the luxury of cashing in on some 2,000 unused sick and vacation days, for almost a year of salary. They are days he said were touted as a benefit to officers in an effort to "not abuse their sick time." More News New Mexico

Threat of nixed sick-time payout sends some police, firefighters packing