Philadelphia Councilwoman Marian Tasco Collects $478K DROP Payment
By Steve Tawa
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Philadelphia City Councilwoman Marian Tasco will be retiring at the close of business on Friday, only to return on Monday and be sworn into a new term, along with the rest of council and Mayor Nutter. But, she'll be able to collect a $478,000 DROP payment.
The city's Board of Pensions and Retirement confirms Councilwoman Tasco's temporary retirement. She was one of six council members enrolled in the controversial pension perk to collect six-figure lump sum checks.
Five other council members are retiring for good this week. They were among all 17 current members who overrode a mayoral veto last September to preserve DROP.
Mayor Nutter's Press Secretary, Mark McDonald, says the Mayor looks forward to fresh blood in City Council.
"The mayor is very hopeful that the new city council will act appropriately and pass legislation that will end drop."
Using what critics contend was a loophole, elected officials have run for re-election, retired for a day to collect the pension payment, and returned to work.
Some city hall observers believe Tasco, a veteran city councilwoman, lost her bid to become the next council president because of her enrollment in DROP.
