(a) Retirement plan. Members of the County Council shall participate in the employees’ retirement plan in accordance with § 5-3-101 of this Code.
(b) Health insurance benefit. Members of the County Council may participate in health programs in the same manner as County employees subject to the following conditions:
(1) Any Council member who is a retired County employee as of the beginning of their first elected, first appointed or non-consecutive term in office shall be eligible to participate in the County health insurance program as a retiree and pay the prevailing retiree premium cost.
(2) Any Council member who is not a retired County employee as of the beginning of their first elected, first appointed, or non-consecutive term in office on or after December 5, 2022 shall pay 50% of the premium cost of coverage set by the Personnel Officer for health insurance during their term.
(c) Transportation allowance. A member of the County Council shall receive $450 for transportation expenses per month for use of a personal vehicle to conduct County business.
(d) Technology allowance. A member of the County Council shall receive a technology allowance of $100 per month to cover the expense of using a personal computer, tablet, or cellular phone to conduct Council business.
(e) Other benefits. Members of the County Council may participate in other benefit programs available to County employees, including health programs, insurance programs, tax-sheltered accounts, deferred compensation programs, credit union services, deductions for charitable purposes, and payroll deductions relating to these programs. Participation in these programs shall be in the same manner as in the participation of County employees. Additional benefit programs authorized for County employees during a councilmanic term of office may not be made available to members of the County Council until the beginning of the next term of office, at which time they shall be fully available unless prohibited in this section. Members of the County Council may not receive County employee paid leave, or payroll deductions other than those associated with the items authorized in this section.
(f) Expenses incurred outside the County. Subject to approval in the budget, a member may be reimbursed for actual necessary expenses incurred in representing the County beyond the County’s geographical boundaries.
(g) Other allowances prohibited. Except for the allowances provided for in this section, a member is not entitled to any other allowance of any kind.
(1985 Code, Art. 2, § 2-101) (Bill No. 35-86; Bill No. 39-90; Bill No. 56-94; Bill No. 13-98; Bill No. 64-98; Bill No. 4-02; Bill No. 23-04; Bill No. 18-10; Bill No. 23-10; Bill No. 73-10; Bill No. 2-18; Bill No. 20-22)
Editor's note – The allowances for transportation and technology for members of the County Council made by Bill No. 2-18 apply only for members of the Council elected during the General Election in November 2018 and thereafter.