Baltimore County could be forced to dole out more than $19 million to pay back alleged “excess” pension contributions to older employees, actuaries said.

The estimate came in response to a federal age discrimination lawsuit filed against Baltimore County government for requiring older employees to make higher pension contributions than younger employees. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed lawsuit in September claiming the county and six labor organizations discriminated against two named retired employees and others at least 40 years old.