This is a taxpayer rip off. They should be made to wait until 62 to collect any retirement like the rest of us. What they do is not all that damn important as a PART TIME job to collect such cash from the taxpayer.

I guess the drunk driver Moxley will be eligible if he gets re-elected!?

Isn't this just wonderful? I know a guy who worked for the County for 15 years. Know what he gets? 12,000 per year. And I can make an argument that his full time job was just as important to the County and its residents as our part-time legislators. It makes you wonder what benefits Mr. Gardenia also will reap.

This is why we end up with the incompetent elected officials that we have. It's all about the money not about public service

The lesson here is the same one being learned in Annapolis today.

That when decent and even generous standards are established in flush times to remember that lean times will (WILL!) come again... and therefore the continuing obligation to maintain those standards MUST be qualified in some manner or risk the complete dismantling of these (generally good and well intended) efforts by those thrust into that responsibility later.

We MUST trim the budget of nearly every agency and department and pension funding too... but please! try to do it without ruining what did work before and will likely work again.

"Granted, there's a danger that we could be so parsimonious with elected officials' salaries and benefits that nobody would want the job."

This is a spurious argument; limit the salaries and the only people that would run would be those dedicated to public service. Public service used to be about sacrifice, not personal enrichment. I say, go back to $3,000 a year. I'd rather the real money go to police, fire fighters, and teachers, than part time councilmen.

In this one state party nothing surprises me anymore. Elected officials take care of themselves first and foremosr. The answer is simple-term limits.
And lets change this retirement policy-as always typical Maryland Democratic BS!

Councilman Gardina voted against the police twice in the last several years on matters relating to their 20 year retirements. police that retire now with 20 years service must now pay almost 45 % copay for their health care. This came about when the county bribed other labor groups with a raise if they would vote for this. the other groups of course said yes because they already had 25 year retirements and it wouldnt hurt them any. Then the next year, the police were awarded, in federal arbitration, 50%of their pension, upon their death,to their spouse on a 20 year retirement. The county executive decided to use a questionable legal maneuver to get around the arbiter and had the council vote on items one by one. Gardina voted against the arbiter's award and with the county in denying this award to those retiring after 20 years. So now somebody who protected Mr. Gardina and the citizens full time for their 20 year careers will receive less pension and pay 45% for their health care than a part time employee who voted against them getting the same benefits. somehow thats just not right!

Moxley already has his pension locked in because many Democratic voters ALWAYS vote the party line. His arrogant attitude toward his constituents should have limited him to one term.

It's time to stop the county council gravy train.

The County Council's golden parachute is a total rip off especially when compared to what teachers, police, and firefighters get after working full time for 20 and more years.

Atrocious!

You know what? LEAVE THEM ALONE!!! They do ALOT for their districts. Compared to what corporate heads make for doing NOTHING, this salary is a pittance and they have families too. They have to deal with a lot more crap than the average person, for example, harsh criticism from people like YOU who have nothing better to do than sit around and complain.

Now, now, let's not begrudge the honest, hardworking politico who has served the public for 20 years. After all, he did contribute 14% of his pay to the pension. So, assume he earned an average of $50k per year for a part-time job for the last 20 years. A cool million. 14% of that means he contributed $140,000 to his pension. He's a young man that could live easily 30 more years. So, $54,000 over 30 years is $1.62 million. Wow! He turned $140k into $1.62 million. So, Vincent, the taxpayers are paying you about $1.480 million over the next 30 years for your invaluable part-time politicking over the last 20 years. Yet another pig feeding off the public trough. He got his. Now, where does I git me mine?

While the good people of Baltimore County had nothing to do with establishing this policy - still, let this be a lesson to all. FIRE your elected leaders when the cease to represent you. The people in this county and the State are beholden to simply re-electing the same useless representatives every election cycle. If you want change then change who represents you - and make that change EVERY election cycle if necessary. Good day!

You guys and gals are something..........One of these Councilman tried to cap it off a decade ago and nothing was done. They may be listed as part timers but you don't see all the hours they put in aside from their normal duties. These guys have to jump from schools to hospitals to nursing homes to parks, libraries, places where building and homes will be built or torn down. They are driving to different events and gatherings and trying to make them all and then after all that, their driving around and making phone calls, checking emails and having to get back with people that they still have to balance marriage, kids, their other jobs and committments and yet still be on call 24/7 as a councilman. If someone approached them while they were in public with their family and asked them a question, they don't blow them off and say "oh I am not the councilman right now, call me tomorrow after 8", no they are the councilman 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!!

Gardenia should never get100% retirerment !!!!/ when did those jerks pass that? IN The middle of the night