Early Retirement An Option For State Employees

Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration is beginning an early retirement program for eligible state employees in an effort to reduce Kansas government spending.

Secretary of Administration Dennis Taylor said Tuesday the plan has been extended to about 4,000 state employees and runs through Sept. 19. There are more than 23,000 state employees.

Employees would have the option of retiring early and receiving up to 60 months of state-paid health insurance coverage for single members, 42 months for members plus dependents, or a lump sum of $6,500.

Taylor says the goal is to reduce the state’s payroll costs as it tries to shrink the size of state government and keep expenses in line with revenues.

The program doesn’t require the approval of legislators or unions that represent state employees.