Jackson County Sheriff's Employees Association

Jackson County Benefit Summary - JCSEA

Jackson County provides an excellent, generous and comprehensive benefits package for eligible employees and their dependents, as applicable.

This overview provides highlights of the comprehensive benefits package Jackson County JCSEA employees receive. If any statement conflicts with the applicable plan documents, Codified Ordinance, Jackson County policies, and/or collective bargaining agreement, the applicable documents will govern.

Insurance

Health Insurance – As of October 1, 2021, regular full-time employees and their eligible dependents receive medical insurance, including prescription and chiropractic, dental, and vision coverage at no cost to the employee. Regular full-time employees may not waive coverage.  Regular part-time employees may enroll in the full plan, with prorated composite premium depending on their full-time equivalent (FTE), or may elect to waive benefits.  Coverage begins on the first of the month following an employee’s date of hire.

Group Life Insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment – Fully funded for regular full-time employees (prorated for regular part-time employees), employees are eligible the first of the month following date of hire. The benefit is equal to one and one-half times the employee’s annual salary, with a minimum of $50,000. Insurance in excess of $50,000 is a taxable benefit.

Long-Term Disability – Fully funded for regular full-time employees (prorated for regular part-time employees), employees are eligible the first of the month following date of hire.  Benefits are payable after a waiting period of 60 days at a rate of 66 2/3 percent of base salary, up to a maximum monthly benefit of $5,000.

Voluntary Accidental Death and Dismemberment – Regular employees may choose to participate in additional AD&D coverage through payroll deduction, and have the choice of plan and coverage amounts.

Leaves

Vacation – Regular full-time employees earn vacation leave at a rate of 12 to 25 days annually depending upon months of continuous full time service. Regular part-time employees accrue vacation leave on a prorated basis. Employees can carry forward up to two times the annual vacation accrual (prorated for part-time employees).  Vacation leave cannot be used during the first six full months of regular employment. Once per fiscal year, employees may request to be paid for vacation accruals, provided specific requirements are met.

Months of Continuous Full Time Service

Annual Vacation Accrual

12 months

12 days (3.70 hours/pay period)

13 to 36 months

13 days (4.00 hours/pay period)

37 to 60 months

15 days (4.62 hours/pay period)

61 to 120 months

17 days (5.24 hours/pay period)

121 to 180 months

20 days (6.16 hours/pay period)

181 to 240 months

22 days (6.77 hours/pay period)

Over 240 months

25 days (7.70 hours/pay period)

 

Sick Leave – Regular full-time employees earn sick leave at the rate of 3.70 hours per pay period (12 days annually), which starts to accrue during the first pay period and may accrue without limit.  Regular part-time employees accrue sick leave on a prorated basis.  Accrued sick leave may be used as soon as it is accrued.

Holidays – In lieu of holidays, each regular full-time employee receives, on July 1, a block of 12 days (96 hours; prorated for regular part-time employees).  Employees hired after July 1 will have holiday hours assigned on a prorated basis.  Unused holiday hours at the end of the fiscal year cannot be carried forward.  Holiday hours remaining at the end of the fiscal year will be paid to the employee at the employee’s regular straight-time rate of pay.  All personnel regularly assigned to investigations, property, civil, evidence and Court security or day shift will use this block of hours on those holidays the Jackson County Courthouse is customarily closed or the State courts are closed.

Retirement

Oregon Public Employees’ Retirement System – Jackson County participates in the State of Oregon Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS).  PERS has Tier One, Tier Two, and the Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan (OPSRP) pension programs, as well as the Individual Account Program (IAP).  Tier One covers members hired before January 1, 1996; Tier Two covers members hired between January 1, 1996 and August 28, 2003; and OPSRP covers members hired on or after August 29, 2003.

IAP contains all member contributions (6% of covered salary, currently County-paid) made on or after January 1, 2004.  The legislature created the IAP in 2003 to provide an individual account-based retirement benefit for new workers hired on or after August 29, 2003, and for Tier One/Tier Two members active on or after January 1, 2004.  The IAP benefit is in addition to the member’s other retirement program benefit (i.e., Tier One, Tier Two, or OPSRP).  Employees are automatically vested in their IAP account when their account is established.

OPSRP is designed to provide approximately 45 percent of an employee’s final average salary at retirement (for a general service member with a 30-year career or a police and firefighter member with a 25-year career).

OPSRP General Service: Unless employees are in a police or firefighter position, they are considered a general service member. In addition to other retirement programs or any social security benefit, when employees retire, if vested, PERS will calculate monthly benefit using the following formula:

1.5 percent x years of retirement credit x final average salary. Normal retirement age for general service members is age 65, or age 58 with 30 years of retirement credit.

General Service Benefit Calculation Example (employees can estimate their benefit using any number of years and any final average salary)

Final average salary: $45,000
Retirement credit: 30 years as an OPSRP member
30 (years) x 1.5 percent = 45 percent
45 percent x $3,750 (final average monthly salary) = $1,687.50
Single Life Option monthly benefit = $1,687.50 ($20,250 annual benefit)

OPSRP Police and Firefighter (P&F): To be classified as a P&F member at retirement, employees must have been employed continuously as a P&F member for at least five years immediately preceding their retirement. In addition to other retirement programs or any social security benefit, when employees retire, if vested, PERS will calculate monthly benefit using the following formula:

1.8 percent x years of retirement credit x final average salary. Normal retirement age for P&F members is age 60, or age 53 with 25 years of retirement credit.

P&F Benefit Calculation Example (employees can estimate benefits using any number of years and any final average salary)

Final average salary: $45,000
Retirement credit: 25 years as an OPSRP member
25 (years) x 1.8 percent = 45 percent
45 percent of $3,750 (final average monthly salary) = $1,687.50
Single Life Option monthly benefit = $1,687.50 ($20,250 annual benefit)

Voluntary Deferred Compensation Program – Jackson County offers regular employees the option to enroll in IRS Section 457 Deferred Compensation Retirement Plans.  The employee defers compensation through voluntary payroll deductions into this supplemental retirement plan.  The 457 plan is a separate retirement plan from PERS.

Other Benefits

Health Reimbursement Arrangement/Voluntary Employee’s Beneficiary Association (HRA VEBA) – Employees participate in an HRA VEBA plan through Gallagher VEBA.  The pre-determined funding arrangement is chosen by the Union.

Voluntary Direct Deposit – An employee may choose to have their payroll check automatically deposited into their bank account.  Employees can choose up to four accounts to receive direct deposit funds.  Most banks allow participation of this program.

Voluntary Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Section 125 Plan – The FSA is a tax-free regular employee-funded account.  Regular employees may choose to participate in pre-tax health insurance premiums, out-of-pocket unreimbursed eligible health care expenses, dependent care expenses, and qualified transportation expenses, in order to have “before-tax” dollars deducted from their paychecks.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – Fully-funded by the County, the EAP provides confidential services to help people privately resolve problems that may interfere with work, family, and life.  EAP is offered to regular employees, their dependents, and any household members.  Services include up to four face-to-face counseling sessions per issue per year, 24-hour phone crisis access to counselors, and convenient access to on-line consultations with licensed counselors.