Milwaukee County Supervisor Seeks to End Part-Time Pension Program Costing $194,000 a Year
Updated
Updated · WISN Milwaukee · Aug 20
Milwaukee County Supervisor Seeks to End Part-Time Pension Program Costing $194,000 a Year
2 articles · Updated · WISN Milwaukee · Aug 20
Summary
Sheldon Wasserman proposed legislation to soft-close Milwaukee County’s OBRA pension plan for part-time and seasonal workers and move future hires into Social Security.
A county study found the system misses many eligible former workers: 47% of 422 people due payments since 2019 never received them, often because the county cannot locate them.
That failure carries a price tag — OBRA has averaged $194,000 a year in administrative costs, with unclaimed money eventually going to the state after repeated outreach attempts.
Several hundred employees could be affected, including lifeguards, pool attendants and park workers, though current participants would be asked whether to switch or stay in OBRA.
County Executive David Crowley’s office said it will review the proposal and its fiscal impact; Wasserman said a board vote could come in September or October, but a full phaseout would take years.