Ingham County Chief Circuit Court Judge William Collette ruled that the new state law requiring state employees to contribute 3 percent of their salary toward their retiree healthcare is unconstitutional. Judge Collette’s ruling stated that the Legislature did not go through well-established, constitutional procedure granting the Civil Service Commission (CSC) the authority to deal with employee compensation.
The Attorney General’s office has indicated they will take the matter to the Court of Appeals as soon as possible while attorneys for labor have asked Judge Collette to return the 3 percent that has been collected in escrow and to end the automatic withdrawals immediately. Most Capitol insiders believe the matter will ultimately move all the way to the Michigan Supreme Court.
The decision does not impact a separate matter brought by school employees who were also required to make the same 3 percent contributions. That matter remains before the Ingham County Circuit Court.
Labels: judge william collette