[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6218076,"mediaKeyId","3631552-958a76867ad6906c939ee1e9d26fdcc1","parentId",3631552,"title","Fairfield Township weighs Anthem renewal, self-insurance and other plans amid steep health-cost growth","audioSeconds",1210,"startMs",5070000,"endMs",6280000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3631552-958a76867ad6906c939ee1e9d26fdcc1&start=5070&end=6280","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3631552-958a76867ad6906c939ee1e9d26fdcc1/thumbnail_5070000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6218076/Ohio/Fairfield-Township-weighs-Anthem-renewal-self-insurance-and-other-plans-amid-steep-health-cost-growth","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6218076-cd80e0e59bed4b981f9fedd3346c4b65/orig.mp4?Expires=1771167751&Signature=WBNPOivWyS9ZdrSectMWRr4cZDV9kH7RDp1p0FvyxSfkvvJ2CK9ErIVW1decLaDH4oKgU9flr3TwLaNxVvlEPem~dJAKO-7XcpG30aa4WSs7Cw6wr-1A37zz61wK0v-34l3vwhCgjuJetbrsnrkNTjM-EdvCXL5AA4~sIspYsHTOmnOXgyQp4X0cWk26euJoCJ15FimR8e~uOUau~SYHS-Fc5~ydRHycJ6AMyhU6Ya5aZyKwbSMkSNOqraybbrMEUd~3ieVQK3QnVUwaXQAfv4iq-mBmf16fzpSJQG7Sltl-2FwPETCpbnBdgmRPLYWogAtnz3VX5dpnSpwebnhQtg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Fairfield Township, OH ","date","2025-06-03T12:37:33Z","article","Fairfield Township administrators presented health-insurance renewal options during the June 2 meeting, recommending the board authorize a short-term contract to maintain employee coverage while exploring longer-term changes including self-insurance.

Township Administrator Shannon Lipinski told trustees the carrier market initially quoted increases but that Anthem returned a renewal at no increase after the township indicated it might leave; other options would save money but entail trade-offs. Lipinski said UnitedHealthcare would reduce premiums by roughly 5% if the township remained fully insured with a different carrier, while some self-insurance proposals could reduce costs by up to about 14% in the analysis presented.

Lipinski explained self-insurance would require the township to hold premium dollars in a dedicated account, hire a third-party administrator to pay claims, and buy stop-loss (reinsurance) coverage to cap large claims. She summarized a proposal estimating expected annual claims and an annual-maximum exposure; under one illustration expected claims were about $610,000 with an annual maximum of roughly $763,000, requiring stop-loss above a specified per-claim threshold.

Trustees and staff discussed operational implications, including network compatibility (a self-funded administrator would need to use a provider network such as Medical Mutual of Ohio or Cigna), employees’ familiarity and comfort, and enrollment timing. Union and department-head feedback, Lipinski said, reflected reluctance to change carriers because of the “fear of the unknown.”

The board adopted Resolution 25-89 authorizing the township administrator to execute a contract with Anthem for short-term coverage to preserve continuity while staff pursues options. Trustees asked staff to pursue additional analysis and a plan to evaluate switching brokers or exploring captive/self-funded arrangements in the coming months.

Lipinski and trustees discussed potential employee-facing measures to lower claims under a self-insurance scenario, such as wellness programs, incentives for generic drugs and earlier use of in-network care; one model discussed included rebate or premium reductions tied to favorable claims experience. Trustees directed staff to return with additional carrier comparisons, network implications, and an implementation timeline if staff recommends a switch from full-insurance to self-insurance.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Fairfield Township Board of Trustees Special/Public Hearing Meeting 6/2/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Fairfield Township trustees received a staff briefing June 2 on health-insurance renewal options and approved a short-term Anthem contract while directing staff to pursue further analysis of UnitedHealthcare and self-insurance proposals.","taxTitle","Fairfield Township, Butler County, Ohio","taxId",55541,"location","Ohio","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6218081,"Fairfield Township trustees set second hearing after residents question $5 permissive vehicle-license tax",321,143000,464000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3631552-958a76867ad6906c939ee1e9d26fdcc1&start=143&end=464","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3631552-958a76867ad6906c939ee1e9d26fdcc1/thumbnail_143000.jpg","/articles/6218081/Ohio/Fairfield-Township-trustees-set-second-hearing-after-residents-question-5-permissive-vehicle-license-tax","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6218081-1bd5fe8b33d507c69459653159fdd934/orig.mp4?Expires=1771167751&Signature=ZJz2-5A521ejoccsRIWD0zlRM2wQWxg1DK~7Y3j1ke51bhGsI8WJB2cnK6mnPRBiNCGTmg2j8D6Ziyzr8qf70vnOGj~kX3MiaqtSyym-6mb4zjAnNBFCGdEQfuUwntuLGh2qCcqcCoO4RnoammvYIq2fYbsM~d1YZaNkLxMSKAzZ8iCgOOU~fm5lSUyh45ab80g7XXciTuyYkIUDH~Tnp8mmNIBDfcYzAarTQvir3mKaqYLX-5~1mDoLpSS5txv099dE6iGB8tPCNyWkKumrzEhrundFUF1QOfEERrHuUiqUkkpmSW6PvzcziP9-ZRbV5MimoYn6NxKCDhchYSNxUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Fairfield Township trustees held a public hearing June 2 on a proposal to impose an additional $5 permissive motor-vehicle license fee on registrations in the township’s unincorporated areas and scheduled a second hearing for June 10 at 7 p.m.

Administrator Shannon Lipinski explained that Ohio Revised Code 4504.181 permits townships to levy an extra permissive license-plate fee and that, if enacted, the township’s share per vehicle would rise from $4.50 to $9.50 and the measure could bring an estimated $250,000 a year dedicated to road and stormwater capital work.

The discussion focused on how the revenue would be spent and on alternatives. Lipinski told the trustees and attendees that township capital funds “cannot be used for any other reason” and listed eligible uses — asphalt, curb-and-gutter replacement, storm pipe and jetting, signs, equipment and contracted paving services. She presented township revenue and expense projections showing growing shortfalls by 2030 if no new revenue is added.

Residents voiced mixed reactions. Maria Tangier of Harvard Street asked whether funds would be limited to capital work and was told they would. Ferry Stroud and several others said they believed prior federal ARPA funds and county COVID-era allocations had temporarily supplemented paving budgets and that those dollars are now exhausted. Rodney Gray of Green Crest Drive and other attendees urged trustees to explore cost controls and to make sure paving work targets the highest-need roads, while other residents said they preferred spreading cost by vehicle use rather than further raising property taxes.

Trustees and staff explained two legal funding paths available to townships under state law: a permissive motor-vehicle license fee or a road levy (property-tax millage). Trustee Mcabee said the $5 fee is one of the commonly used, immediate options and noted trustees may later increase the permissive fee within statutory limits if they choose.

After public comment, the board voted to close the hearing and to schedule a second public hearing on Tuesday, June 10 at 7 p.m. at the Fairfield Township Administration Building. Trustees also said they plan to vote on the matter at their regular meeting on June 17.

The hearing record shows trustees took public feedback on priorities for pavement and stormwater projects and requested staff provide a detailed, year-by-year paving plan and a clearer accounting of prior and projected spending before a final vote.

Trustees stressed that, absent additional revenues, the township could reduce the annual paving program and that deferring projects frequently increases long-term costs.

The board’s procedural actions during the meeting: a motion to open the public hearing, a roll-call vote to close the hearing, a separate motion to schedule the second hearing for June 10 at 7 p.m., and a statement that a decision would be taken at the June 17 regular meeting.","Fairfield Township trustees held a public hearing June 2 on a proposal to add a $5 permissive motor-vehicle license fee aimed at funding roads and stormwater capital projects and set a second hearing for June 10 at 7 p.m.","actionData","errors"]

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Fairfield Township weighs Anthem renewal, self-insurance and other plans amid steep health-cost growth

Fairfield Township trustees set second hearing after residents question $5 permissive vehicle-license tax