Buy-in of creditable service by temporary, interim, intermittent, or provisional workers and workers in part-time positions
Seattle Mun. Code § 4.36.575
in effect4.36.575 - Buy-in of creditable service by temporary, interim, intermittent, or provisional workers and workers in part-time positions
These terms and conditions apply to workers acquiring ("buying in") creditable service under Section 4.36.530 for earlier work in temporary, interim, intermittent, or provisional positions, and part-time positions exempt from the Civil Service.
A. Eligible services. The first 1,044 hours of City service are not eligible for purchase of creditable service. Only hours in continuous City service as shown on City payrolls can be counted subject to the multiplier in Section 4.36.555. A break in the continuity of City service excludes hours before the break. Such a break in on-call, seasonal, or intermittent service occurs if a worker:
1. Removes that worker's name from a roster or listing for work assignments;
2. In seasonal employment, declines the opportunity to work for a season; or, in other employment, fails to work at least 100 hours in any 12 month period;
3. Takes other actions indicating that the worker has stopped or suspended for a year providing services to the City; or
4. Is discharged from City employment.
B. Amount of creditable service. Creditable service shall be granted only for the hours for which both the worker and the City make contributions to the retirement system at the rate contemplated by Section 4.36.540. To receive creditable service for prior City service, the worker shall deposit into the retirement system an amount determined by the Board of Administration equal to the sum, or some part thereof, that the worker would have paid had the worker become a member when first eligible and had deductions been made from the worker's pay warrants, through the years, for creditable service, together with interest thereon. Interest shall accrue at the Board's assumption rate established for actuarial purposes from the date of the wage or salary payment to the date of deposit and shall be compounded annually.
C. Waiting period, service before 1988. A worker, who began continuous City service on or before December 31, 1987 and has not already received such credit, shall receive creditable service for the first 1,044 hours, or portion thereof, of continuous service worked before January 1, 1988. This is a transitional exception to subsection 4.36.530.B.
D. Administration. The Board, in its discretion, may delegate to the Executive Director the calculation of the amount of contribution for such worker to acquire ("buy in") in prior creditable service and may authorize its Executive Director to use an approximate formula to simplify computations and/or to determine credit for vacation and other paid leave when City records are not available therefor. For example, for hourly workers, who have held the same or similar positions over the duration of the buy-back period, the Board may determine the amount due by:
1. classifying the worker's creditable hours by the contribution rate in effect at the time the hours were worked;
2. multiplying the creditable hours in each rate classification by the worker's current hourly wage rate and by the applicable contribution rate; and
3. adding the total of the products of all such classifications together.
E. Deposit Contract. The Board may authorize such worker to deposit under an agreement for installment payments under the following terms and conditions:
1. The deposit must be completed within ten years from the date of the member's eligibility to join the retirement system.
2. After deducting any immediate deposits, the balance shall be payable in approximately equal amortized installments unless the Board authorizes otherwise. Installments shall be deducted from the worker's pay whenever practicable. By rule the Board may establish a minimum initial deposit and allowable installment payment and may include other appropriate terms and conditions in the agreement.
3. A member may accelerate and prepay all or part of the deposits at any time before the member dies, retires, or discontinues City service, whichever may be sooner. If extenuating circumstances preclude an earlier payment, the Executive Director may allow a member up to ten days after retirement or discontinuance of City service to make a lump sum payment of the balance.
4. If a member dies, retires, or discontinues city service before completion of the contract, the member shall receive creditable service on the member's buy-in on a pro rata basis.
5. The member is responsible for making any adjustments appropriate under the Internal Revenue Code with respect to individual retirement accounts and privately administered retirement plans.
F. City matching money. The City shall match the member's contributions and deposits, including interest, in the same manner as other members. If the worker provided services in two or more departments, at the request of the Director of Finance, the City Budget Director shall apportion the amount of the City contribution among the employing departments. The Director of Finance's determination of apportionment shall be final.
G. If not exercised, the opportunity described in this section 4.36.575 for a worker to acquire ("buy in") service credit for prior City service in a temporary, interim, intermittent, or provisional position, or a part-time position exempt from the Civil Service, expires six calendar months after the worker becomes eligible for membership in the retirement system. Members who have otherwise failed to exercise an option to purchase creditable service for prior service previously rendered as a temporary worker, as that term is defined in Section 4.04.030, shall be allowed to purchase creditable service for service previously rendered but not credited as a temporary worker, by paying into the retirement fund, at the time of resignation from City service or at retirement, the actuarial present value of the resulting increase in benefit. The terms and conditions of purchase shall be in accordance with the provisions of subsection 4.36.567.B, and purchases of service credit will not be permitted to the extent forfeited under subsections 4.35.525.K and/or 4.36.567.D.
(Ord. 125109, § 26, 2016; Ord. 124574, § 28, 2014; Ord. 123361, § 99, 2010; Ord. 121365 § 8, 2003; Ord. 120684, § 8, 2001; Ord. 116368, § 101, 1992; Ord. 114592 § 5, 1989.)
Source: City of Seattle, Seattle Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/wa/seattle/codes/municipal_code?nodeId=TIT4PE_CH4.36CIEMRESY_4.36.575BCRSETEININPRWOWOPAMEPOFetched: 11/1/2026