Five department heads in the city of Coeur d'Alene will receive tens of thousands of dollars in health and retirement benefits including three years of medical coverage as part of a separation agreement negotiated with the city, according to a story in the Coeur d'Alene Press.

According to the story, the city has offered such early buyout agreements since 2010 due to budget problems. Most of the employees have been with the city for a number of years and are among the highest-paid employees in the city.