County's workers' compensation premium rises after payroll re‑calculation, consultant explains

Insurance consultant Steve Lapp (S14) briefed the court on the county’s workers’ compensation renewal beginning Nov. 1. Lapp said an updated payroll calculation — annualizing payroll and accounting for 24 pay periods rather than prior incomplete runs — raised the county’s reported payroll from about $39,000,000 to roughly $43,333,000, which explains the higher premium. "So applying that payroll to the same rates results in a higher premium," Lapp said, and he described the county's recent loss history ($577,000 over three years, largest claim about $27,000) and the predominance of medical‑only and jail‑related claims.