CINCINNATI, Ohio - The southwest Ohio county that includes Cincinnati had $1.3 million set aside this year for pension costs but has used it up as more workers retire.
County officials tell The Cincinnati Enquirer many recent retirees are worried state lawmakers will try to cut their pension benefits to save money, so they're retiring early. The increase in retirements surprised the county, and it had to cover payouts for vacation and sick time using its general fund.
The newspaper reports some of the allotted $1.3 million went to employees who retired and then returned to their jobs so they could get both a pension and a salary. The so-called double-dippers have received about $600,000 in payouts, while about $700,000 went to retirees who didn't go back to work.