A Republican state lawmaker wants changes made to reduce the number of public employees who retire and then return to their jobs, a process known as “double dipping.”
State Senator Rob Cowles (R-Green Bay) says state auditors found that over a five year period nearly 2,800 people came back to public employment after retiring, collecting their pension and a paycheck. Right now, they have to wait 30 days before they can return. Cowles wants to extend that to between 90 and 120 days.
AUDIO: Sen. Cowles (:14)
Cowles says taxpayers should benefit from the change because managers of government units will have more incentive to go out and hire someone new to replace the person who is retiring, rather than waiting a lengthy period of time to bring the same person back.
It’s illegal for employees and their bosses to coordinate retirement and a return. Cowles says auditors also found that the state needs to have clear policies in place for investigating those cases.
Mike Kemmeter, WHBY