Measure B Would Limit Pensions for County Supervisors

Voters Tuesday will have a chance to keep Orange County Supervisors from picking the more generous pension options offered to county employees.

The ballot measure was spearheaded by Supervisor Shawn Nelson.

Nelson and Supervisors Bill Campbell and John Moorlach also voted to put the measure -- Measure B -- on the ballot.

Nelson, who ran against the county's unfunded pension liability when elected in 2010, signed his name to the statement in favor of Measure B on Tuesday’s ballot.

"In 2004, the Orange County Board of Supervisors approved the enhanced retroactive pension formula known as 2.7 percent at 55 years of age," the statement reads. "This vote increased pension benefits for county employees and Members of the Board of Supervisors. Unfortunately, the action drastically increased Orange County’s unfunded pension liability, which currently stands at $3.7 billion."

The ballot measure would require supervisors to take the less generous 1.62 percent at 65 if they opt for a county pension. This means that once supervisors turn 65, their pensions would pay 1.62 percent of their salary for each year they worked as a supervisor.