Lackawanna County pension board approves $3,082.18 reimbursement for double payroll deductions

At a meeting of the Lackawanna County Pension Board, members approved a transfer of $3,082.18 from the county pension account to the payroll account to reimburse an employee after payroll records showed pension deductions were withheld twice.

Board staff presented payroll printouts showing the employee, identified only as Corey, returned to county employment on June 5, 2024, and had pension deductions of $1,380.60 for 2024 and $1,701.58 for 2025 taken twice on payroll. According to staff, the duplicate deductions occurred because the employee’s prior record remained in the payroll system after rehire, causing the pension withholding to be applied twice while the pension fund credited the amount only once.

Board staff said the total duplicate deductions — $3,082.18 — will be transferred back from the pension account into the payroll account so the employee receives a gross adjustment. A board member noted the reimbursement will be treated as earned income and included on the employee’s W-2 to ensure payroll reporting is correct.

The board approved the transfer by voice vote. The motion and second were recorded in the meeting but individual vote names and counts were not specified in the transcript.

The board moved on after the vote to consider selection of a new actuarial firm.