State Severance Plan Opens Today, Offering Non-Frontline Employees Incentives to Pursue Opportunities Outside of State Government

SPRINGFIELD - The State Employees Retirement System (SERS) will begin taking applications today for the state's severance plan, which will be offered to no more than 3,000 eligible non-frontline employees working in agencies under the Governor's control, SERS and participating constitutional offices.

 

Governor Blagojevich included this initiative in the state's introduced fiscal year 2005 budget last February as a means to continue making state government more efficient, as well as reduce both headcount below an already 30-year low and the fiscal burden placed on the state and SERS. The plan is estimated to save the state $81 million annually and will reduce the state's overwhelming pension debt, which remained unfunded for more than 30 years and added up to more than $35 billion when the Governor took office. The Governor will refill only a very limited number of these positions once they are vacated.

 

"We believe that we can continue to make government smaller, more efficient and accountable, while not compromising the state's ability to deliver quality services to its citizens," said Governor Blagojevich.  "This will not only reduce a significant fiscal burden on our state, but will help free up dollars for K-12 education and critical health care services for uninsured families, children and seniors who need prescription drug coverage."

 

Participants of the severance plan will receive, in exchange for their accrued retirement benefits, a payment equal to double the value of all pension contributions made to SERS by the employee with 6.25% interest.  For example, an employee who has contributed $3,000 to the pension system and earned $1,000 in interest will receive a cash payment of $8,000.  Participation in the retirement plan will not affect accrued health insurance benefits, but will terminate any pension benefits.

 

SERS will take applications on a first-come, first-served basis through September 30, 2004. No applications will be taken after this deadline.

 

Eligible employees were mailed materials by SERS over the last several days detailing relevant information regarding their participation in the plan. Information regarding the severance plan and cash payments associated with participation can be found by going to www.state.il.us/srs/SERS.htm.  Job titles eligible for participation can also be found on the SERS website at www.state.il.us/srv/SERS/WNalpha_sers.htm.

 

Employees who do not participate in SERS are not eligible for this plan, nor are employees of non-participating judicial, legislative or constitutional offices.