More than 10 Cass County employees lobbied the Cass County Board of Commissioners May 17, asking for a decision to be made about their retirement packages.
Employees of the county clerk’s, court and treasurer offices asked why they are the only group in the county that has not received an increase in their retirement multiplier.
Currently, the group’s multiplier rests at 1.5 percent through the Municipal Employees Retirement System (MERS), while other county employees received an increase to 2 percent as recent as last month.
Members of the group said they are hoping, through contract negotiations with the bargaining committee and the board, their multiplier will also be raised to 2 percent.
“We’ve used a formula to calculate a person’s retirement and that multiplier adds to that person’s monthly retirement benefits,” Tina Butler, a county employee, said. “The percentage increase may seem small, but depending on a person’s salary, it can equal hundreds of dollars each month that someone wouldn’t be getting without this increase.”
According to Butler, the increase has been given to every other county employee.
“This is the last chance we can receive this increase,” Butler said. “By June, the rules will change, and our multiplier will be kept the same; we won’t be able to receive any increase after that.”
Butler, among other employees, said she feels the lack of increase has become personal.
However, Chairwoman Minnie Warren cannot comment on the matter.
“We’re currently in contract negotiations,” Warren said.
Butler said she and other employees will continue to attend the county board meetings until a decision is made.
“We’re going to keep moving forward with this because we feel like it’s too important,” Butler said.