Greencastle, Antrim benefits explained
By PAT FRIDGEN Echo Pilot

Editor's Note: The Echo Pilot is continuing its service to citizens by examining some of the expenditures of local tax-funded entities. Officials have been most gracious in providing requested information, which is public record and available to anyone who asks.

Payroll and affiliated benefits comprise a significant portion of expenditures of any employer. This report is on the benefits offered to employees by the Borough of Greencastle and Antrim Township.

It is not meant to be a cost comparison of the benefits since the variables in contract details are many. It is simply an explanation of the programs offered or provided to employees.

The probationary period for both municipalities is 90 days before which an employee is eligible for benefits.

Raises

The Greencastle Borough Council approved a three percent raise for its 23 employees for 2008. Salaries come from the general fund and Greencastle Antrim Franklin County Water Authority, depending on the responsibilities of each employee. The GAFCWA income from user fees is not tax-based. The borough workforce includes full-and part-time, as well as the police department.

The Antrim Township Board of Supervisors granted raises to most of its 24 full-and part-time employees, but not by a set figure. The raises varied from one percent for the township manager to 12 percent for the public works inspectors. Most of the raises were in the two and three percent range. The part-time landfill inspector position wage dropped 41 percent, from $34 to $20 per hour.

Township wages come from the general fund and Antrim Township Municipal Authority. Payroll coming from the water and sewer user fees is not tax-based.

Medical benefits

Greencastle pays 100 percent of the health care premiums for fulltime employees. It covers 75 percent of the coverage for additional family members. The cost to the borough for a fulltime employee with family medical and dental coverage is just over $850 per month.

The plan has a high deductible so the borough pays that as well to a certain threshold for single and family coverage. It also reimburses employees up to $250 annually for prescription deductibles and coinsurance expenses. A vision plan is optional at employee expense.

Antrim Township pays 100 percent of the healthcare premiums for family coverage for fulltime employees. Employees working at least 20 hours per week may participate in the program with the township paying for 50 percent of the benefits. Employees working fewer hours may participate at their own expense. A fulltime employee who opts out of the insurance program will be compensated $1560 per year, provided he has insurance from another source.

The employees have prescription and medical copays.

The township will reimburse fulltime employees up to $1500 per year through its eye/dental care/specific medical expenses self-insured fund. This amount was raised from the previous $1000 at the Board of Supervisors organizational meeting Jan. 7. As part of this fund, a Wellness program is also available to fulltime employees. They can be reimbursed for half of membership fees for participation in programs that promote health.

The Pennsylvania Second Class Township Code allows supervisors to participate in the health insurance program. In some townships supervisors are fulltime employees. All five Antrim supervisors are enrolled in the plan. Their premiums are paid by the township and they will be reimbursed for certain out-of-pocket expenses to $1500.

The cost to the township per month for medical expenses for one employee is just shy of $1300. The self-insured fund reimbursement is extra.

The borough and the township are insured through plans brokered by Benecon Group, which serves municipal co-operatives. Municipalities receive refunds when claim levels are low in a given year.

Paid time off

Borough employees receive five days vacation after one year and 10 days after three years. It increases to a maximum of 15 days for hourly employees and 20 days for salaried. Vacation time may not be carried over to the next year.

Employees receive 10 paid holidays: New Year's Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas.

Sick leave accrues at one day per month of employment, with no limit to those hired before Jan. 1, 2007. For the rest the accumulation is limited to 100 days. Family sick leave is two days per year.

Afulltime employee earns two personal days per year which may not carry over. Funeral leave for close family members is three days.

Township employees earn vacation on a formula of 1.5 hours times weeks employed. When vacation equals two weeks, that number remains in effect through five years, then increases yearly to a maximum of 20 days.

Employees receive 12.5 paid holidays: the same as above plus first day of deer hunting season, half day of New Year's Eve and birthday.

Personal/sick leave is five days per year, which can be carried over to a maximum of 10. Bereavement leave is three days for immediate family and one day for extended family.

Life and disability insurance

Greencastle employees have a Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance coverage of $50,000. The disability benefit is 2/3 of gross weekly earnings to a maximum of $750 per week. It is valid up to 26 weeks.

Antrim Township life insurance coverage is $20,000. The disability benefit is 2/3 of a weekly wage up to 52 weeks.

Borough Manager Ken Womack said that while pay in the public sector is typically lower than in private industry, job security and benefits tend to be better.