Sedgwick County staff propose removing 800-hour requirement for retiree sick-leave payouts

Sheena, a county staff member, told commissioners the county is proposing to remove the current requirement that a retiree must have an 800‑hour sick‑leave bank to be eligible for a payout. "What we are proposing here is to change the policy that a retiree does not have to have an approved bank of 800 hours to be paid out their sick leave," Sheena said.

The proposal would not extend payouts to employees who leave voluntarily; it would apply only to retirees who submit required retirement paperwork and begin receiving retirement pay. Sheena said payout amounts would remain limited to 30 days or the retiree’s balance, whichever is less.

Commissioners asked about fiscal impacts; Sheena said a full eight‑month fiscal report was not available but supplied a two‑year summary: 86 retirees over the past two years, 40 received sick‑leave payouts and 36 did not, and those who did not receive payouts averaged about 96 hours of sick leave. A commissioner asked whether such payouts would affect a retiree’s final average salary; Sheena responded that effect depends on retirement plan rules and membership status for dates after 1993.

No formal vote occurred in the agenda read; the Clerk said the item will appear on the regular Wednesday agenda for formal consideration and that staff would provide additional fiscal detail. The discussion distinguished between retiree‑only payouts (the proposed change) and payouts for nonretirees (which would remain ineligible under the proposal).