The Journal Sentinel used the Wisconsin open records law to obtain computer databases of pension information on more than 400 past and present general county employees. Between 1990 and early 2007, all of them bought back prior service.

More than 350 cases were examined to build the first-ever estimate of the financial gain for workers who benefited from county- granted breaks on buybacks.

The Journal Sentinel's six-month investigation focused on cases in which county policies and practices were disregarded or ignored. Sheriff's deputies were excluded from the analysis because they are subject to different pension rules. Some cases were thrown out because data or records were incomplete.

A formula was devised, in consultation with public pension fund experts, to arrive at annual pension gains for current and former employees who obtained the buybacks.

Crunching the numbers

For active workers, pension gains were based on a set of standard assumptions. Those included full-time employment until retirement and 2% annual raises. The anticipated retirement date was a combination of age plus years of service totaling 80. Eighty was the average among retirees with buybacks.

To assist in forecasting gains for retirees and active employees, the Journal Sentinel hired two actuaries, William Kalke of White Chalk Consulting and John Frederick, a Shorewood consultant.

The actuaries came to similar conclusions. Kalke projected the total lifetime gain at $52.1 million; Frederick, $49.48 million. Kalke estimated the county liability at $14.9 million; Frederick, $15.1 million. The county's liability is what it would have to set aside to fund the pension payments over time.

All calculations were based on the full "normal" value of a pension at retirement and do not include any future payments to beneficiaries after death of the former employee. The analysis assumed no increase or decrease in the pension benefit rates in place.

The county refers to as "buy ins" cases involving former seasonal and other workers in a program that gained popularity starting in the early 1990s. The Journal Sentinel, for clarity's sake, is referring to all types as buybacks.

Nearly 500 cases in all

The total number of buyback cases is approaching 500, including some that were still being processed when the Journal Sentinel began its analysis. In some of those cases, workers followed longstanding rules.

That means the Journal Sentinel's analysis was not all- inclusive, and that its calculations of total gains are conservative.

Reporter Dave Umhoefer also reviewed the original paper pension files for information in 60 cases. Former County Executive David F. Schulz's pension file was reviewed separately from the 357 cases because he is in a separate pension category known as deferred retirement. He is eligible to begin receiving a county pension at age 60, in 2009.