Note 7 - Deferred Compensation and Long-term Incentive Plan

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block]

Note 7. Deferred Compensation and Long-Term Incentive Plan

We offer a deferred compensation and long-term incentive plan (the “LTIP”) to provide certain employees the ability to accumulate assets for retirement on a tax deferred basis. We may make discretionary contributions to the LTIP. Discretionary contributions vest between one and seven years based on the employee’s age and position. Additionally, a participant may defer a portion of his or her compensation and receive the deferred amount upon certain events, including termination or retirement.

In 2014, we made discretionary contributions of $2.4 million to the LTIP. Participants will receive a guaranteed return of 5.25% in 2014. We recognized compensation expense related to the LTIP as follows (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2014		2013		2014		2013
Compensation expense	$	381	$	357	$	1,458	$	1,042

As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the balance due to participants was $10.8 million and $7.1 million, respectively, and was included as a component of other long-term liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.