McGee's Reward

Michael McGee's political career may be history, but his pension isn't. When he hits 60, it will be there for him.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

A pension perk for most of Milwaukee's elected officials will boost jailed Ald. Michael McGee's pension to more than $8,900 a year when he reaches 60.

Monday was the last day in office for McGee, 38. He was defeated for re-election while in the Waukesha County Jail, where he is awaiting trial on state and federal charges. A conviction would not affect his pension, said Martin Matson, the city's deputy pension director.

For the mayor and most city employees, a pension is calculated by taking the employee's average salary for the three highest-paid years of service, multiplying the result by total years of service, and then multiplying that figure by 2%. Aldermen and other elected officials, however, receive the same 2.5% multiplier as police officers and firefighters.

In addition to his four years as an alderman, McGee has the full-time equivalent of 1.4 years of service as a Milwaukee Public Schools employee, Matson said. That time is subject to the 2% multiplier.

As a result, McGee's annual pension would be about $8,904, not the $7,913 that was reported in Friday's Journal Sentinel.

Even if McGee is convicted, that wouldn't affect his pension.

He'll get paid, but he'll have to wait a couple of decades.

What does one have to do to be stripped of one's pension?

Is it possible to lose it? It should be.