CROWN POINT | Lake County government employees showed interest Tuesday in an early retirement package on its first day of offering.

Tom Dabertin, county government's personnel consultant, said Tuesday afternoon that about 50 people attended the first seminars, which began at 1 p.m.

"I've already been handed one application, and it's only 1:45 p.m.," he said. "That's pretty good."

The Lake County Council and Board of Commissioners authorized an early retirement program last month that will be available to nearly 200 county employees who are 65 or older and have at least five years of service.

Any who choose to retire as full-time employees between now and Dec. 31 will be given a $96.40 per month stipend to ensure they can receive health insurance at the same cost as full-time employees for another five years.

The program is an incentive to reduce the county's public payroll to achieve more than $10 million in spending cuts by next year, when a property tax reduction law will take effect and reduce local government revenues.

The early retirement program could generate savings of between $250,000 and $2 million -- depending on how many employees take part -- by shifting the bulk of health care costs of senior employees from local government to the federal Medicare and Medicaid plans, supporters of the plan have said.

The retirees could return as part-time employees on reduced hours and pay and retain their federal health care benefits.

Dabertin said many attending the seminars ask basic questions about how it would work for them.

County officials warn they may have to lay off employees to achieve spending goals.