Retirees of the Monroe County Sheriff`s Office say the county is cutting their benefits. According to the retirees, Monroe County promised them they would obtain the same medical benefits they received upon retirement.

“The county has now chosen to renege on their promise to provide us with those same health benefits that we previously enjoyed and our co-pays have continually risen on an annual basis,” said Sheriff`s Office retiree Robert Kehoe.

A group of retired deputies have taken their concerns to the legislature. Many of them expressed they were forced to choose between buying food and their prescriptions due to rising costs over the years. Starting December 31, 2017, retirees who are 65 and older will be forced to select new medical plans in 2018.

“When we tried to initiate discussions with the county, we were told flat out by the director of human resources ‘if you don’t like it, you can sue us,’” said Kehoe.

The county says the retirees that will be eligible for Medicare will get some assistance from the county.

“Every single retiree would be better off because of this plan, said Monroe County Human Resources Director Brayton Connard. “Change is difficult, and some retirees are skeptical and I understand that.”

According to Connard, retirees under Medicare will receive $600 annually to help ease the burden of medical costs. To those that took an oath to serve it`s still not enough.

“I believe that the county is obligated to stay with the agreement that`s in the contract,” said President of the Monroe County Sheriff's Office Association of Retirees Marvin Hankinson. 

“Retirees will argue and say we were promised X and you are giving us Y and that is not accurate,” said Connard.

Retirees and the county plan to meet about the issue Tuesday.

“We`re not looking for anything more, but we`re not willing to accept anything else," said Kehoe.