Countywide : County Workers Get Retirement Survey

Ventura County officials have sent out surveys to nearly 800 employees asking if they would be interested in taking early retirement.

The survey, sent out by the county’s Labor Management Committee, began arriving Saturday at the homes of employees who are eligible for retirement.

County Treasurer-Tax Collector Hal Pittman, a committee member, said officials decided to find out if there would be any interest in the program before encouraging the Board of Supervisors to pursue it as a means of reducing costs next year.

“This is not an offer,” Pittman said. “This is only a survey. We want to see if there is real sufficient interest out there. If no one is interested, why bother?”

According to the three-page survey, employees were asked if they would prefer supplemental income or added health benefits to retire early. The survey must be turned in by next Wednesday. The county has 4,697 employees.