GILROY
– City Council will discuss enhancing its military leave
benefits tonight as one of the city’s police officers prepares to
report for active duty in Operation Enduring Freedom.
GILROY – City Council will discuss enhancing its military leave benefits tonight as one of the city’s police officers prepares to report for active duty in Operation Enduring Freedom.
The city currently provides mandatory benefits that are required by state and federal law: 30 days paid military leave per year – including benefits – as well as unpaid off to attend training drills.
The proposed policy Council will consider tonight is similar to one offered by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, and would offer up to one year of differential pay between the city salary and the military salary after the regular 30 days of paid leave. Other paid benefits could also be offered during the leave period.
The idea was brought to the Council’s attention by Mayor Tom Springer, a VTA board member.
“We, like the private sector, want to encourage our employees to fulfill their obligations to our country by participating in the reserves,” Springer said. “We don’t want to put impediments in place.”
The officer, who is unnamed in the staff report because of personnel reasons, received initial orders to report to duty for 30 days beginning today, according to the report. Within about two weeks, he will receive additional orders that remain in effect for one year, and could be extended an additional year.
The cost to provide the salary differential payments to the officer for one year is estimated at $38,571, according to the staff report. The officer has said he would not require health benefits because the military would cover him and his family is covered by another employer.
The cost of hiring a police officer for one year is estimated at roughly $93,400, including benefits.
