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RECENT UPDATE: Voluntary Out and Emergency Passes House

 

Legislation to help fund voluntary out (VOBO) benefits in state agencies passed the House Tuesday evening. HB 2363 (Johnson, Mike and Miller, Ken) allows state agencies to access a special fund to pay for VOBOs.

 

 

Under the provisions of HB 2363, agencies may apply for funds to cover benefits in a one-time VOBO offer.The funds will be limited to a total of $22 million, which will be appropriated in a trailer bill. Employees must be eligible for retirement to participate in the plan. Agencies must also reduce their FTE for three years by the number of employees who participate in the plan.

 

 

The benefits that will be reimbursed through the fund include:

  • payment equal to 18 months of the health insurance premium for the employee only in a lump sum, and
  • the employee’s next longevity payment. (This is a full longevity payment and is not prorated.), and
  • a maximum lump-sum payment of $5,000.

 

 

In addition to the benefits funded by the legislature, the bill states legislative intent that agencies use existing funds to enhance the VOBO package based on years of service.

 

 

According to the bill, the program will be implemented in June. A second try at the emergency clause passed the House Wednesday afternoon. 

 

UPDATE:  Governor signs VOBO BIll,

Posted on Wed, April 21, 2010 by Mark Beutler

16 comments (Add your own)

1. Kathleen L. Calton wrote:
It is to my understanding only from hear say,that the Okla.Tax Comm. will not apply for this. So there are a lot of us that would like to retire and this buy out would allow us to do so. Also in my case as of Jan.2010 I have 28years at the OTC but due to workmen comp I have to stay until Nov.2010 how would this affect me if the OTC would let us do a buy out. Thank you so much for your time. Kathleen L. Calton

Wed, April 21, 2010 @ 11:11 AM

2. White out wrote:
I will be with the State 27 yrs July 23, I think the ones who can retire should be given the option.

I was with the State when they furloughu for one day a month before, since that time we have not had a decent pay raise. Which every unit should have the option to leave the State and have this option.

I really don't want to waste my time with the State anymore, and this would give me way out.

Thu, April 22, 2010 @ 8:25 AM

3. Beverly J. Melvin wrote:
This Voluntary Out compensation package that is proposed probably would be good if employees who choose to take it weren't taxed on the money. After all the taxes on the 18 month lump sum, the longevity pay and the $5000 dollars an employee will be lucky to get out of there with $5000. A proposal that would be better, would be to give employees who are eligible for this Voluntary Out a year's salary and 24 month lump sum for the insurance and not tax the lump sum and the longevity pay.

Thu, April 22, 2010 @ 10:41 AM

4. Kris wrote:
I wish it was time for me to retire, I would take the buy out and run with it. Years ago, if you had a State job, you were someone special, not anymore. From the Goveners' on down, they have not take the hard work we do for the State seriously. We are the ones who with are hard work bring in matching $$$$$ for the State and we have not been rewarded for it nor does it appear we are going to be and there is really no form of advancement within the agency I work for.

Thu, April 22, 2010 @ 1:17 PM

5. john wrote:
If you are vested with OESC will you be able to take the buyout. Im not retirement age!

Thu, April 22, 2010 @ 2:01 PM

6. #### wrote:
i have to agree with Kris.

Thu, April 22, 2010 @ 4:00 PM

7. Miserable State Employee wrote:
Why can't they pass a bill that would apply to ALL state employees that are retirement age? There is no way MOST agencies are going to apply for this funding since they must reduce their FTE's for 36 MONTHS!!! Please OPEA, ask them to pass a bill that would allow ALL employees to receive a VOBO! This bill is not fair!

Thu, April 22, 2010 @ 4:46 PM

8. Wishing I had kept my old job!!! wrote:
We state employees used to be a proud bunch. We do not make the decisions to waste the money but for some reason we are the ones paying for it. Take DHS for example...you want to take a half day of work from them but we cannot keep the case worker positions filled as it is!!! The state budget or rainy day fund will not suffer, but, the kids in foster care will!!! Well, I guess we all have to make choices, too bad the kids in foster care and the DHS system do not have a choice!!! I guess they will just have to suffer for the choices made by state officials!!!

Fri, April 23, 2010 @ 8:43 AM

9. Kris wrote:
Unfortunately the cuts are not just going to affect kids, it it going to affect senior citizens, disabled citizens and citizens on mental type medicines as well. Oklahoma finance is broke and I think we deserve to know why.

Fri, April 23, 2010 @ 10:24 AM

10. Not ready for retirement wrote:
Oklahoma finance is broke, that's true. But, honestly, have you seen how much Bob Stoops, a fellow state employee is being paid. Ridiculous! Our clients will suffer and we will, too. But football still reigns supreme.

Sat, April 24, 2010 @ 12:02 AM

11. Patriot wrote:
Only a small portion of Stoops's salary comes from the state. The rest comes from alumni funding.

Mon, April 26, 2010 @ 11:57 AM

12. Ken wrote:
Actually none of Coach Stoops salary comes frome appropriated funds. The OU Athletic Dept. is self supporting and actually makes a profit, contributing money to the university!

Mon, April 26, 2010 @ 6:04 PM

13. Tim wrote:
I know it's been a long time since we have received a pay raise but I still consider myself fortunate to have my job. I have been with the state for 23 years and will be able to retire in 8 more. I know that I will get paid every 2 weeks, I know that my family will have insurance, I know that what we do as state employees makes a difference. When I came to work in 1987 my pay was 1,018.00 a month and now it is much more than that. When I get to thinking how nice it would be to get a pay raise I have to remind myself that I came to work for 1018.00 a month and anything over that is just bonus. I am thankfull to have a job and I believe things will get better.

Tue, April 27, 2010 @ 4:23 PM

14. *&%(*#&*@(#*(%#*(%^@(*# wrote:
There is a saying that I would like to remind the people of. "As go the people so goes the country". This phrase reminds me that if we give up and run away, and believe me I understand your plight, we loose. If we the people give up our families loose, the kids loose, the elderly loose & the state looses. We have a voice, we have friends, we have state employees that are that are seeing our livelyhood go down the tube. LET'S FIGHT! Let's vote our representatives out of office! Stand up say NO MORE!

Do you people have any idea how big we can be if we stand together? Henry is gone this year... Our next Govenor MUST be held accountable to the people not big buisness... Look at the people running for office. Be bold ask them the hard questions...Look at who is financing their campaigne for office, is it the people or big business? What are their piorities for getting this State moving in the right direction. Don't give up GET MAD! GET FIGHTING MAD! Even if you retire take time to do the research and find out who is the friend of the people. It is just my oppinion but if the government is not going to take care of us, it is time we look real hard at who we put in office and take care of ourselves. For every 3 people we know they know 3 people, who know 3 people, who know 3 people. Let's send a message, a big message. We have worked long enough and hard enough to declare "WE DESERVE RESPECT" not to be discarded like yesterdays dirty diapers.

Wed, April 28, 2010 @ 10:13 AM

15. Cheryl Proffitt wrote:
Our agency has always been prudent with the financial budget, I am thankful for the careful management down through the years. I know this is not true for all state agencies, all things considered we still have jobs, opportunity is there to pursue,and our service is rewarding.

Wed, April 28, 2010 @ 10:34 AM

16. Long Time State Employment wrote:
How can a garden be put in at one of the offices when the State has no money? Do away with the wasteful spending, be responsible! Think of a single state employee with children, trying to hold down a couple of jobs and trying to feed his/her children. Before the furlough not eligible for FS. Well, now they can qualify. What does it say, if you are that close to being able to receive welfare, state government? The VOBO is not a good one. It lacks so very much. You can't retire on that? There are employees out there that think it is great. It's not! Read between the lines. Some employees are too young to retire even if some feel they are. When you leave state government below Medicare age, insurance is expensive. Look at both sides. The state will get back part of the buyout by taxing it. Education should be responsible for more cuts. Education is putting the load on state employees. It's all a ripple effect. Clients will have to find other avenues to find their income. Maybe crime will go up? We have to look at the big picture. Someone needs to wake up. We will be like California.

Wed, April 28, 2010 @ 12:37 PM

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