His last day of work will be
What Herman calls a much-needed "sabbatical" is highly unusual, but he says it's designed to save the county money and allow him to take a vacation that doesn't include responding to work emails and calls.
But Herman didn't think about one potential hitch in his plan: The 65-year-old can choose whether to start receiving retirement benefits once he quits.
Federal rules don't allow the distribution of such benefits if an employee retires but expects or has an agreement to be rehired by the same employer. That's because the
An employee who breaks the rules has to return any benefit distributions, or the entire retirement plan that all
Herman said in an interview this week that he hadn't considered whether it could be problematic for him to receive retirement benefits after he quits. He said he hadn't decided whether to receive his benefits, but that if he couldn't get the money, it would be "no big deal," since the savings in his retirement account would only grow.
"I want a sabbatical. I've got a sabbatical," Herman said. "So that's my focus right now. Rest. Relaxation."
Herman later referred other questions to
"We may have some disagreement with the retirement system," Wood said, later adding, "If he decides to do it, and if they decide to make an issue about it, I'm going to be very surprised."
A statement from the Texas County and District Retirement System said state law requires that an employee have a "bona fide" termination to legally receive benefits -- a criteria that isn't met if the employee plans to return as an elected official.
On Tuesday, the Travis County Commissioners Court unanimously voted to accept Herman's resignation, which was submitted
The Commissioners Court also voted to appoint Associate Probate Judge
Herman, whose salary is
Herman said he may not run for just one but two more terms, if he's rejuvenated enough by his time away from work, but said he hasn't seriously thought that far ahead.
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Travis Probate Judge Guy Herman retires, knowing he'll be re-elected
3 comments:
Pension benefits or fishing for funding?
It sure sounds like shenanigans to me!
Bastards
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