Board hears IMRF accelerated‑payment estimates; Negotiating Team process discussed

Finance Committee Chair David Meinhold provided the Board with an overview of IMRF anti‑pension‑spiking measures and presented specific accelerated payment estimates the county could face if certain end‑of‑career pay increases occur.

"the IMRF 6 % Rule is really directed towards the employer, and is an anti-pension spiking measure (formally known as the Accelerated Payment Rule) that requires an employer to pay the present-day cost of a pension if an employee receives an end-of-career salary or severance increase of 6% or more during their Final Rate of Earnings (FRE) period, which is 48 months," Meinhold said. He noted estimated employer liabilities calculated through IMRF tools: approximately $28,570 for County Clerk Dawn Kupfer (IMRF's review slightly higher once a state stipend was included), roughly $51,000 for the Treasurer and $12,678 for the Circuit Clerk.

Meinhold recommended the Negotiating Team be allowed to perform due diligence outside full Board sessions and suggested recruiting additional Team members so negotiations are not conducted in short full‑Board meetings. The Board did not adopt a change to Negotiating Team membership at this meeting but recorded the update for future decisions.