Annual Payout for Excessive Sick Leave. In each year following that 1800 hour (1200 hour for 40 hour a week employees) base year, the employee may, on a form provided by the City, elect to receive pay for excess sick leave or may elect to increase their sick leave accumulated base by the 144 hours (96 hours for 40 hour a week employees) and take any additional excess sick leave in pay at the following prescribed rate: employees who choose to increase their sick leave accumulated base by the 144 hours (96 hours for 40 hour a week employees) will receive 50% pay off rate in March; employees who choose to receive pay out for excess sick leave over the base, and do not exercise the option of increasing their accumulated sick leave base by 144 hours (96 hours for 40 hour a week employees) in any particular year, will be paid for excess sick leave at the 38% pay off rate in March. Forms, provided by the City along with projected excess sick leave balances, shall be distrib- uted to affected employees by February of each year and shall be returned to the City by Feb- ruary 15th. If an employee uses part of an established "sick leave maximum accumulation level", the employee may replenish the used portion at the applicable rate provided in Section 3.5.2 (Accumulation of Sick Leave). Determination of eligibility for such payment shall be made on an annual basis, and payment for such sick leave for any calendar year shall be made during the month of March each year. Such payment shall be made at the employee's regular monthly salary rate in effect on the last day of the first pay period to end in March. An employee shall be eligible for this provision whether or not the employee is on the payroll as of the last day of the first pay period to begin and end in March.
