Employees of the Ohio Turnpike enjoy retirement benefits of which the overwhelming majority of taxpayers can only dream. For example, the turnpike's top engineer received $287,000 in pay and separation benefits when he retired last year.
Part of the problem is that when turnpike employees retire, they can cash in unused sick and vacation leave. In the private sector, sick leave is for when you're sick. Unused vacation leave is gone at the end of the year.
Turnpike Executive Director Richard Hodges has said the lavish retirement benefits are too generous. He's right. They should be eliminated.
