Arkansas’s recent efforts to curb double-dipping — simultaneous retirement and rehiring of public employees into the same job with both retirement and regular pay — are being emulated elsewhere.
Article in today’s New York Times reports on abuse of the practice in Arizona. Please note a wrinkle that may not have been fully considered in Arkansas. It’s a big loophole. What if a public employee retires, takes retirement pay and then gets hired by a private firm that contracts with a public agency for consulting services that amount to more or less the same work and the same pay? That would be legal in Arkansas, I believe, if odious. The article outlines some other double-dip work-arounds. Keep your eyes peeled.