O.C. supervisors look to courts for pension opinion

Orange County supervisors will seek a court opinion on whether a retroactive pension benefit sheriff’s deputies received starting in 2002 is unconstitutional. Following the lead of Supervisor John Moorlach, supervisors voted Tuesday to make a final decision on the issue Sept. 18. In the meantime they’ll hear an independent legal opinion of the issue and learn whether deputies would be willing to pay for the benefit.

The issue could be resolved if deputies agree to pay for the retroactive benefit, a route that is legal and other county employee unions have taken, Moorlach’s chief of staff Mario Mainero said. Whatever happens, supervisors are not taking the issue lightly. “There is a valid legal question, it has been raised and I think this board has an obligation to explore it,” board Chairman Chris Norby said.

— Alicia Robinson