Milwaukee County Supervisor Sheldon Wasserman is pushing for a major change to how the county manages retirement benefits for part-time and seasonal employees. The current system, known as OBRA, covers workers who do not qualify for the Wisconsin Retirement System or Social Security. According to Wasserman, this program is inefficient and carries unnecessary costs.
A study conducted by the county revealed a significant issue with the current setup. Nearly half of the former employees eligible for payments since 2019 never received their funds. Many of these individuals are transient or have moved out of the area, making it difficult for the county to locate them. Consequently, the county spends approximately $194,000 annually just to manage these administrative hurdles.
Wasserman proposes a shift toward the federal Social Security system to replace OBRA for future hires. This transition would require cooperation with state and federal agencies and involves a multi-step phase-out process. The county board is expected to consider the legislation in the coming months.
While the proposal is still under review, County Executive David Crowley indicated his office will assess the plan. The primary goal of this legislation is to cut administrative spending and ensure that seasonal workers have a more reliable retirement path moving forward.