A candidate for Baltimore County Executive has called for repeal of a measure that effectively doubles the pension payout for sitting council members, labeling it “a moral outrage.”

“Let’s put this in real terms: an $84,000-a-year pension for just 12 years of service in a part-time job is insane,” Democrat Nick Stewart said in a campaign press release today.

“No working family in Baltimore County gets anything close to that – and certainly not by rewriting the rules to benefit themselves,” Stewart’s statement continued.

Noting the difference between the council’s self-awarded benefits and those of the County’s frontline workers, Stewart called the gap “a stark disparity,” explaining:

County Council: Four years of part-time service and at least 55 years old or serve 16 years; eligible for roughly $84,000 per year after 12 years.

Teachers: Must serve 30 years full-time to receive roughly 50-55% of their salary.

First Responders: Police and firefighters must serve 25-30 years to qualify for pensions of roughly 50%-60% their salary.

Stewart’s declaration is the latest fallout from Bill 40-24, which dramatically boosts the pensions of council members and links future increases to their salaries.

The measure, sponsored by Councilman Wade Kach, calculates council members’ pensions using salary increases that will double under a recommendation made last month by the salary board.

The new salaries must be approved by the council and, if that happens, lawmakers will get a pension boost even if they leave office before the salary hike takes effect.

• Brew special series: County councilmen boost their pensions

Kach, for example, who is not seeking re-election, will retire this December before his salary would be increased from $69,000 to $140,000.

Nevertheless, if the recommended salary increase is adopted, his pension for 12 years of service would jump 103% from $41,400 to $84,000 a year.

Jones calls for Charter Amendment

The Brew asked if repeal of Bill 40-24 is supported by the three Democratic councilmen running  for county executive.

Councilman Julian E. Jones replied by issuing a press release late today that described Stewart’s plan as inadequate and called for a charter amendment to reverse the damage he said was caused by his rival, Izzy Patoka.

“The salary and pension hikes now under discussion were the foreseeable result of a backroom deal that reclassified the County Council as a full-time body – a measure authored by Councilman Izzy Patoka, supported by Republicans, and quietly bundled into a ballot question without clearly explaining to voters that it would result in six-figure salaries and corresponding pension increases,” Jones said.

A new amendment is needed to restore the council’s original part-time designation, he said, and “to reestablish a compensation structure that reflects the actual workload and responsibilities of council members.”

Patoka will vote “No”

Patoka, meanwhile, told The Brew he will not vote to approve the proposed council salaries.

“I will not support the recommendations of the Salary Advisory Board. Their salary recommendations are extraordinarily high and not appropriate,” he said in an emailed statement.

We have not received a response yet from Councilman Pat Young.