Schuylkill County's Retirement Board recently agreed to exclude in lieu of for pension purposes on a prospective basis for all employees, effective Jan. 1, 2016.

The move reduces the average salary by about $1,820 for 71 employees.County Controller Christy D. Joy said the controller's office sees this as a benefit reimbursement, not as compensation, as this reduces average salary by about $1,820.While other counties exclude this as a best practice, Joy said the controller's office believes it was just an oversight when the county computerized payroll.Other types of payoff, such as meal reimbursements and clothing allowances, were also included in error, but were corrected in previous years.The board agreed that former employees that satisfy the vesting requirements are automatically vested after 90 days.Joy said retirees would not be affected by this at all, as only the current employees that decline health care would. At present, that would affect 71 employees.In related matters, the Retirement Board:• Agreed to contract with the Hay Group to submit the county's retirement plan document to the IRS for a determination letter.• Agreed to post and mail county employees' retirement system notice to interested parties.• Authorized a check produced from the plan for $2,500 to United States Treasury and to approve the retirement plan document, effective Jan. 1, 2015.• Noted that the plan will be updated and submitted to the county by the Hay Group by Dec. 18. Changes will be made in technical governmental accounting and IRS regulations. The cost-of-living amendment, effective in 2017, is supposed to be added to the plan. The Hay Group is providing the service for 40-plus counties.