KIRTLAND, Ohio – More than 30 Lakeland Community College administrators and staff are expected to retire and be rehired this fall under a program that officials say will save the college more than $400,000 a year.

The “Post-Retirement Employment Program” was offered to eligible full- and part-time eligible administrators and staff.

The college has received requests from 34 employees since the resolution was approved by trustees on May 4, spokeswoman Jessica Novak said in an email. The deadline to Aug. 31.

Opponents to the practice, in which retirees collect their public pension while also collecting a public salary, call it double-dipping. Employers say it saves money because it defers the cost of hiring and training a new worker and because the rehired employee can be paid less.

Cuyahoga Community College and Lorain County Community College are not considering such a program, officials said. [LFC added emphasis]

Lakeland expects to save $433,000 in salaries and related School Employee Retirement System and Medicare contributions.

“This program also avoids the loss of a significant amount of institutional knowledge all at one time due to changes in SERS’ pension tables effective August 1,” she wrote.

Starting Aug. 1, state pension reform changes increase the age and length of service required to retire. A grandfather provision allows members who reach 25 years of service on or before Aug. 1  to retire under the current requirements.