Local

Benefits that should not go to county retirees’ dependents to continue

CHARLOTTE — Benefits paid for by taxpayers will continue to go to dependents of Mecklenburg County retirees even though they are not supposed to.

Those accidental payments are in the millions and have been going on for decades.

The threat of stopping those payments caused an uproar among retirees when the county said it would stop sending them money on June 1.

Channel 9 reported Tuesday that the county manager walked that back and payments will continue.

Former county employees said the difference in cost to now cover their families would wipe out their pension checks, and more.

“Some of these retirees behind me are trying to figure out where they’re going to get another job to pay for the insurance,” said Jim Pendergraph, a Mecklenburg County retiree.

“Retirees have worked for the county for below-market wages for many years with the expectation and promises of health benefits in retirement,” said Jerry Pinckard, a Mecklenburg County retiree. “We upheld our end of the bargain. We’re asking for the county to uphold its end of the bargain.”

Channel 9′s Madison Carter asked the county exactly how much the error is costing taxpayers and what they’re going to do to fix it.

County officials have not shared that information.

Channel 9 is waiting for an official records request to be filled so we can learn those answers for ourselves.


VIDEO: County accidentally paid out millions in benefits to dependents of retirees





Madison Carter

Madison Carter, wsoctv.com

Madison is an investigative reporter and anchor for Channel 9.

Michael Stolp

Michael Stolp, wsoctv.com

Michael is an investigative reporter for Channel 9.