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Why work? Carona hits pay dirt in retirement
July 24th, 2008, 4:00 am · 27 Comments · posted by Teri Sforza, Register staff writer
The Watchdog imagines that it’s with some relief that Mike Carona and George Jaramillo note that being a convicted felon does not disqualify one from receiving public pension payments.
(We noted yesterday that former county treasurer/felon Bob Citron has received about $1.3 million in public pension payments since he was forced into retirement in 1994, after his risky investment strategy imploded and local governments lost $1.6 billion. Read more about that here.)
Carona, for the record, was indicted on federal charges that he deprived the public of the honest services of a public official by using his office to suck cash and gifts from friends in exchange for favors. (Lots about that here.)
His sidekick Jaramillo, meanwhile, was convicted of two felonies (perjury and 
misappropriation of public funds), and pleaded guilty to federal tax evasion and mail fraud.
So. How much do lawmen-gone-wild Carona and Jaramillo stand to earn in public pension dollars, felons or not?
The Watchdog asked the county public info types and were told, at first,
NONE OF YOUR BEESWAX
“While salaries paid to public employees while they are in active service is considered public record and is not prohibited from disclosure, pension payments are different,” wrote Julie Wyne (Orange County Employees Retirement System assistant CEO) to me in an email. “We are governed by a provision of the Government Code, Section 31532, that states that member records are confidential unless we have a court order, written authorization from the member, or we are required to disclose the information in order to properly administer our system. Since none of these conditions are present, we are unable to comply with your request.”
TRY, TRY, TRY AGAIN
The Watchdog does some deep breathing and hits upon an alternate strategy.
She sends another email to the county public information types, this time asking:
“-What was the effective annual salary for Mike Carona the day he retired?
- How many years had he been in the county’s employ?
- What was the formula under which his retirement was to be calculated?
- What was the benefits package in place at the time?”
Framed thusly, county PIO Brooke De Baca provided the desired information. Julie Wyne turned out to be quite helpful in making sure my calculations were not widly off the mark - directing me, in the end, to a simple calculator on the OCERS web site.
PAYDIRT (SO TO SPEAK)
First, we pick Plan E and F (the controversial 3% at 50 plan for public safety folk that the current Board of Supervisors is trying to overturn). The calculator takes Carona’s monthly salary at retirement - $17, 332 (or $99.99 per hour, or $207,979 per year) and multiplies it by the number of years he was in the county’s employ (33.99) and his age at retirement (52.5)…and it tells us he will earn…
EXACTLY THE SAME AMOUNT IN RETIREMENT AS HE EARNED WHILE WORKING!
Yes, Carona is hauling in that same $17,332 per month, or $99.99 per hour, or $207,979 per year right now as retired sheriff. And he made such a big fuss over refusing to step down. Why work?!
Now 53, Carona can reasonably expect to live another 20 years - which means he’d collect some $4.2 million in public pension payments if they continue at the current level.
Now, this figure *could* shrink somewhat. If found guilty of conspiracy, nothing Carona earned (or contributed to his pension plan) after Jan. 1, 2006, would count toward his pension, unless the Board of Supervisors took pity upon him, which is somewhat unlikely. This would effectively freeze his pension at the Jan. 1, 2006 level - $171,870. Or some $14,323 per month. Which would shrink his 20-year total to a measley $3.4 million. Poor dear.
AND A PITTANCE
Jaramillo, meanwhile, made $11,516 per month (or $66.44 per hour, or $138,195 per year) when Carona axed 
him in March 2004. He had worked for the county for just 5.6 years, and was just 43.5 years old, so he’s collecting a far more modest $1,393 per month, or $16,716 per year.
Now 47, Jaramillo can reasonably expect to live another 20 years as well- which means he’ll collect some $334,320 in payments.7
(Keep in mind that pensions are increased each year with a cost of living adjustment. I didn’t factor that into my calculations.)
Gentlemen. Enjoy your, er, golden years.
27 Comments
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unreal.. if you are fired from your job or quit dont get unemployment, which you pay for (even your 401k match and profit sharing can be taken).. but government employees can be convicted and still get paid, with our fn money!!
yep rubypearl.. disgusting isn’t it.
good thing the county payroll system appears to only go up to $99.99 per hour… or else Carona would be stealing even more of our money.
This meets my definition of . . . O B S C E N I T Y . . .
Ridiculous. Carona is a crook and so are the rest of his cronies. They shouldn’t get one dime. The rules need to be changed.
America has created this new breed of self-serving public assholes….When the revolution comes these phoney cop heros will be the first to go……..
Orange County Employees Retirement System is packed with either union cronies or union bosses. You don’t have a chance of getting elected without union ‘endorsement’ because virtually all union members swallow whatever the union spins - whole. Smiley-faced baloon heads.
Union membership up? Yeah, that’s because ALL new hires basically have to join. What EXACTLY do I mean by that? - If you don’t ‘choose’ to join, they still dock your paycheck something like 90% of your dues amount for ‘administrative’ costs. Only by ‘joining’ can you purchase additional optical and dental coverage - kept very low for non-members. What a racket.
“Why work” indeed. While we’re at it, why be honest? Why have integrity? Why be faithful to your spouse? Why uphold the pledge of your sworn public office? etc. etc. Million $$ pension, you don’t think guys like Carona see this way down the road, knowing they’ll come out smelling like a rose? They’re way ahead of us, that’s why they’re always smiling during press conferences and photos.
I’m disgusted.
Kevin S, that’s because those undesirables have taken over the OC Rep party
The system should be changed and the new rules made to be applied retroactive. And by the way Republicrat Cecil, I don’t see any outrage coming from the republicans either….
Rot in hell Corona, you are a troll and a coward.
Nice! Our system is so messed up! I want to cry.
And you must not forget Jaramillo worked for the Garden Grove Police Department and retired under the PERS system. By working for the County, he was able to maintain his PERS retirement benefits and collect from the county system as well. So in reality, he will receive far more than reported. He left the GGPD as a LT, as part of a settlement. He actually only worked 1 day as a Lt., but left with the benefits.
What we need is a new REVOLUTION!
Right you are, John. I called the Garden Grove Police Department weeks ago and asked for more information on Jaramillo’s pension situation; I have yet to receive a call back.
With the amount of cash this guy will accumulate, I hope many of his victims file civil suits asking for large sums of money. He can probably be beat at his own game.
who’s robbing who.? the cops or the thiefs
I wonder who they were plotting to screw in the above picture!
Jaramillo will not collect anything from PERS until he is 50. If GG is “single highest year” he’ll receive whatever percentage from his last year on the department. He probably had about 15-20 years on the job, so he’d get about 60-70% (taxable).
Good for you Carona…You work all your life serving the public and these haters want to take you hard earned pension from you…these are probably the same people that backed you when things were good.
[...] Why work? Carona hits pay dirt in retirement [...]
[...] Why work? Carona hits pay dirt in retirement [...]
Start by voting out all incumbents. They are all on the same “print your way out of it” gravy train.
[...] Why work? Carona hits pay dirt in retirement [...]
[...] Why work? Carona hits pay dirt in retirement [...]
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[...] Carona himself (middle right) is hauling in the same $17,330 per month - or $207,979 per year - in retirment as he did while working. [...]