Court Opinion

ID: 9540196
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 16:13:33.55218+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:59:42.738129
License: Public Domain

Justice EAKIN,
dissenting.
I join Chief Justice Castille’s dissent. This duck not only waddles and quacks, as the Chief Justice points out, it is retroactively feathering its own nest with the down of others.
The majority spends much time determining post-retirement health benefits may be included in the term “compensation,” a conclusion with which I do not disagree. However, *601compensation is something earned; in this case, it is a consideration not earned. It is nothing but a gift — a gratuitous favor done by officials for themselves, a modification of terms of employment long after service has been rendered. It is not deferred compensation; it is retroactive compensation.
Municipal employee or municipal official, deferred or not, compensation is something agreed upon for work performed or service rendered; it is an agreement that “you do this, and you will be paid this much.” Compensation is not something retroactively awarded; compensation is determined going in, not coming out. This is an ex post facto raise, a manufactured bonus never bargained for, an award of significant benefits never contemplated by either payor or payee when service was provided. This is like voting oneself a gold watch upon retirement, and a Rolex at that.
If municipal officials wish to allow employees to earn post-retirement benefits as part of their compensation, they may agree to do so. However, they may not award themselves such benefits ex post facto — this is not compensation. This scheme is nothing more than a windfall given by those officials to themselves in the twilight of their tenure. It is nothing more than a retroactive 20-year raise, never bargained for, never contemplated, never earned. I repeat, this is not deferred compensation; it is retroactive compensation, and that is not permissible.
Chief Justice CASTILLE joins this dissenting opinion.