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The Troup County Board of Commissioners approved a change to the county’s employee Defined Benefit Program that will allow for increased benefits for pre-retirement death benefits.

The change will affect employees who pass away unexpectedly while still serving the county and only affects individuals that are part of the Troup County Pension Plan, specifically employees on the Defined Benefit Plan.

Under the updated plan, an eligible employee’s beneficiary would receive 75 times their monthly salary in a lump sum if they pass away while under the county’s employment.

Previously beneficiaries of the plan would receive 150 percent of the employee’s annual salary, maxing out at $150,000. The new plan has no max benefit.

County Manager Eric Mosley said he has spoken to multiple longtime employees who have stated the reason why they decided to retire early. Their worry is if they were to die while working, the benefit to their spouse and or dependents would be much less.

“This change provides a greater incentive to retain seasoned employees longer,” Mosley said. “I think it provides some greater incentive for retention of some of these men and women who have worked here for a long time to stick around for a little bit longer.”

The change was unanimously approved by the Board of Commissioners.

In other business, the commissioners approved:

4 A request to accept a Juvenile Justice Incentive Grant for 2023-2024 in the amount of $419,412. The award will go to Troup County Juvenile Court to continue to provide multisystemic therapy to youth and families.

4 The annual contract with the Georgia Department of Human Services for the FY 24 transit contract that provides funds for Troup Transit. The rates in this contract are the same as the rates paid in FY23. Most trips are paid at $19 per trip.

4 Approved a request to dissolve the Greater West Georgia Joint Development Authority, which includes Carroll, Coweta, Haralson, Heard, Paulding, Polk and Troup County.

4 Approved a change order of approximately $80,000 for the final payout to the contractor for the government center roof project.