[{"_1":2,"_109":-5,"_110":-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",[32,74,85,97],{"_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":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6165842,"mediaKeyId","5417649-ccbd92b6ef4df295aec5079d8187a969","parentId",5417649,"title","County insurance broker warns 2026 health plan may run a nearly $800,000 shortfall; RFP finalists due before budget adoption","audioSeconds",1265,"startMs",16615000,"endMs",17880000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5417649-ccbd92b6ef4df295aec5079d8187a969&start=16615&end=17880","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5417649-ccbd92b6ef4df295aec5079d8187a969/thumbnail_16615000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6165842/McLennan-County/Texas/County-insurance-broker-warns-2026-health-plan-may-run-a-nearly-800000-shortfall-RFP-finalists-due-before-budget-adoption","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6165842-c816696ec0f782791fab40f0770ee8d0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172892&Signature=QwS3S2BF1Otr52dKDB6kkd~lRUH0Em9JtJDkOc0eR41a3Sh--biwEuKNYnn9gdswTsh1FrAyJiS0p6D5zh7~7qMXJbD3fwfODUOkopX74f8VznY3jRwDeSN3Gve0fKOSzV1Pr8fGjOmvXNs2knoD5KQSEbeTRrIkXkcQeYV3g~JFZkggHNPmO~lf07Hf~R1xP3ucS3rcxMU7003KsxtbDmn2BMNbFtI-zAEmKmu4XiALF78tVBfF~ePUO4pOQV8dI3K~suqDD0vn~HxyhdfymONtM0V0GZI5dLDegzS7EKauCahLOeJ-Nlt7LG7wdt0BJZUgMc~hVBFagfSPoalEcA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","McLennan County, Texas","date","2025-07-18T06:37:58.703Z","article","Hub International presented a mid‑year review of McLennan County’s self‑funded health plan on July 17 and told the commissioners that paid claims through June 2025 are running above the prior 12‑month average, driven in part by several high‑cost claimants that triggered stop‑loss reimbursements in June.
Broker representatives said the county’s individual stop‑loss deductible is $175,000. They reported that in 2023 there were 14 claimants with costs over $100,000 and three reached the stop‑loss threshold; in 2024 there were 17 such claimants and seven reached stop‑loss; in calendar 2025 the broker had identified six claimants over $100,000 so far and three had already exceeded the $175,000 deductible in June. Those cases — notably oncology and other high‑cost medical therapies — are a key driver of premium and stop‑loss expense.
Using enrollment averages and claims through June, Hub projected total health plan cost pressure for 2026 that would produce an estimated operating shortfall of roughly $788,000 under current plan designs and contribution levels. Hub noted the county’s opening fund balance for the plan was about $5.5 million on Dec. 31, 2024 and staff estimated a $4.4 million balance entering 2026; under the forecast the plan would end 2026 with about $3.6 million.
Hub and staff told the court that a pending RFP process for third‑party administration and pharmacy benefit management could reduce administrative fees or improve pharmacy rebates, and that finalist presentations are scheduled before final budget adoption. Hub recommended that the court anticipate asking employees for an inflationary contribution increase if vendor negotiations do not sufficiently close the projected gap. Commissioners asked for comparative performance data by plan tier (PPO vs HSA/high‑deductible) and for a removal of high‑cost claimants from plan‑tier comparisons to better understand plan performance.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Commissioners' Court 7-17-2025","oneSentenceSummary","Broker Hub International told McLennan County commissioners on July 17 that medical and pharmacy claims through June 2025 are above the prior 12‑month average, several high‑cost claimants hit stop‑loss in June, and the broker currently projects a roughly $788,000 shortfall for the 2026 health plan under existing plan design and contribution levels.","taxTitle","taxId",2712,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":78,"_47":79,"_49":80,"_51":81,"_53":82,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":83,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":84,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6165847,"County staff recommend holding most outside‑entity grants steady; animal shelter billing and Waco Family Medicine request draw discussion",0,6652000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5417649-ccbd92b6ef4df295aec5079d8187a969&start=6652&end=6652","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5417649-ccbd92b6ef4df295aec5079d8187a969/thumbnail_6652000.jpg","/articles/6165847/McLennan-County/Texas/County-staff-recommend-holding-most-outsideentity-grants-steady-animal-shelter-billing-and-Waco-Family-Medicine-request-draw-discussion","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6165847-130eda14d85d8b04fa54af791ea2afa9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172892&Signature=DxeCoK0~ziLz7KHVsuNAHOCU3WkjvJdnvOnVCRUTxXfPsZrfI9r-~Lfs1Xc3~phMsqOyLChkk6dnGG8H9nF-kj9Ly8sYsjYd-kI~HtpbX9gksqQ6Mf0U8VjSIcfV0V1vy2wcvDgy~ypux6MRrW5rgWFdwlrUQXEqtOZ3lnWCVfj0HrT-FFVpxFmNVb~CAFx8b3oqyt7gNZsOcnSvDJEYtI5IkfkjqEldewYnlwhsl9KKGL-dCVfjHrlbqyC3KKsBtQ-iBLjvsfsMokOrnralfc8Ddiy7ukjn4MKFWUBaqOAijgY68a1craT1P3tte5oSd~as-YjjloM-aJWv55jkfg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","On July 17 McLennan County commissioners reviewed outside‑entity contract requests, focusing on agreements with the City of Waco, the county’s role in funding the municipal animal shelter and health‑related contracts. County staff reported new materials received July 16–17, including a $25,000 increase in a Waco Family Medicine request to $841,656 for FY2026.
The court examined the animal shelter billing methodology after the city presented a reconciliation process that reviews the shelter budget and intake numbers over the previous 12 months during April and apportions the net cost to jurisdictions by proportional intake. Staff said one month’s review identified 129 animals brought in from McLennan County — about 6.43 percent of intake — producing a county share of roughly $172,500 for the year under the city’s calculation. Commissioners noted city and county officials expect a temporary spike and said they would monitor whether that number levels in coming months.
Commissioners also reviewed behavioral‑health related contracts coordinated under HOTBHN (the behavioral health partnership). The court agreed to keep the HOTBHN line items at the same general levels used in prior budget discussions because the county and its partners are mid‑transition on larger regional grants and state funding allocation. One HOTBHN contract (pretrial diversion) had requested a 27 percent increase (about $22,000) to expand services; commissioners signaled they would revisit the request with more performance data.
After discussion the court signaled an operational decision to treat many outside‑entity asks as hold‑steady for budget planning; commissioners asked staff to return with detailed comparisons to 2024 and 2025 numbers, and to seek clearer itemizations of city indirect costs that had driven apparent increases in several municipal contract lines.","Commissioners reviewed outside‑entity requests for FY2026, examined City of Waco contract calculations (notably an animal‑shelter intake formula that raised the county share) and agreed to keep most contracts near last year’s amounts while discussing a partial increase for Waco Family Medicine.",{"_33":86,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":87,"_41":88,"_43":89,"_45":90,"_47":91,"_49":92,"_51":93,"_53":94,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":95,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":96,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6165852,"Commissioners review county vehicle purchases, take‑home policies and jail transport mileage",520,1280000,1800000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5417649-ccbd92b6ef4df295aec5079d8187a969&start=1280&end=1800","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5417649-ccbd92b6ef4df295aec5079d8187a969/thumbnail_1280000.jpg","/articles/6165852/McLennan-County/Texas/Commissioners-review-county-vehicle-purchases-takehome-policies-and-jail-transport-mileage","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6165852-4ddd510a0e226ea648821ef1d89ce829/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172892&Signature=MWuYqAM7B3ZLQS5eypVCCLvNTaSr1l-22AotM3~KCjZZJOLsKwsq~DgB8z4HKO-yxdOMJNhd2ciLNoe14IpKzYsHWVa7UEqL2El2d39JpwGgj46zRmg5WSDSZzPdDmy-Qul8DFQMwx01Dt5gxWXDxku3U1zGzkWNWGmT5M0pljwWTjGKh9Fm8qr7feE0aZSPUG-raBYIHXeaMrgv~74~dx5e2dwqOYJIppGzseflPuvECDWBf7-K7cp06PVXPDf1GLuAEQxYAFUgtCMGqrMPHfEAGAgbvlZ~0gW~n-~0vA9Q7jqn68oreP6~Rj7Z7w0XE5Zke4SKUOUsHRzsG5~cuw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County staff told the commissioners on July 17 that the county’s rolling stock has increased over the past nine years and that vehicle replacement timing and auction timing can create apparent surges in inventory. Using a snapshot approach, staff reported approximately 176 vehicles under county control: about 146 assigned to the sheriff’s office, 26 to correctional facilities and four to maintenance of equipment. Over the last nine years the county purchased about 195 vehicles and retired roughly 150, a net increase of about 45 vehicles, staff said.
The sheriff’s office described a lifecycle approach for patrol cars: new patrol units typically remain in patrol until roughly 100,000–120,000 miles, are then reassigned to courthouse or transport duties and are removed from high‑mileage duties at roughly 140,000–150,000 miles. The county uses a combination of in‑house minor repairs, trustee labor and occasional outfitting from third parties; staff reported auctioning 41 vehicles in 2025 and receiving 18 replacement units in 2025 (13 budgeted purchases, 4 funded by SB 22 and 1 insurance replacement).
Commissioners also discussed vehicle types, upfitting and recurring costs such as tire size and parts inventory. Staff said standardizing vehicle models reduces parts‑stocking costs but that alternative models can save procurement dollars if the county is willing to expand parts variety. The court reviewed a set of FY2026 capital requests that included 19 vehicles and a golf cart; commissioners agreed to stagger some purchases and to move one Traverse purchase to the next year while keeping a golf cart request for courthouse transport.
The court asked staff to provide clearer snapshots comparing fleet size across dates, and to report average monthly miles for over‑the‑road jail transport vans and the take‑home vehicle policy. Commissioners also directed staff to follow up on whether some specialized transport needs (including psychiatric or mental‑health transports) can be reassigned or billed differently.","County staff walked the court through nine‑year purchase and retirement trends, current vehicle inventory and uses (patrol, jail transport, precinct take‑homes) and proposed capital outlay requests for FY2026; commissioners discussed taking some vehicle purchases over multiple years and sharing vehicles to reduce costs.",{"_33":98,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":99,"_41":100,"_43":101,"_45":102,"_47":103,"_49":104,"_51":105,"_53":106,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":107,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":108,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6165857,"McLennan County officials weigh new fleet-management software as maintenance burdens grow",1199,413000,1612000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5417649-ccbd92b6ef4df295aec5079d8187a969&start=413&end=1612","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5417649-ccbd92b6ef4df295aec5079d8187a969/thumbnail_413000.jpg","/articles/6165857/McLennan-County/Texas/McLennan-County-officials-weigh-new-fleet-management-software-as-maintenance-burdens-grow","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6165857-4be3cfd766b268e6831641b33b92b383/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172892&Signature=fKiZytDPSBFSQMc3Q2iu3wJj556KTqxFVH9lfjfGhyqPK8meCezn1eKf5oiXxkomP7zIRJKRklt0fYXljB-23sA2HhXq48UZq16MS6N89CJDRzxz~Jk~4~tj3o3ZbS7n4NAyyH5mnrYNwKUknplHKD63IEdfbXCZc3n12oV3Y1hzkoesoDRoeqfabOjMAStgcRa6kD41-r2Jgg2IlGDgYy4MoFL4Y2mZeadTqUAThWTM27pJax97PDIHbAGUrYlmavVZfKntds4u3aQkNwzzZ6xJN8kRuGYIhJ3~nrWmkRc2B4QpofaPO27WjxqxFPhjk0woljmtbTR8fFWfoiyYNQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","McLennan County commissioners on July 17 heard county maintenance staff describe how the county’s ad‑hoc fleet tracking has become increasingly labor intensive and said new fleet‑management software could free mechanics for hands‑on work, improve preventative maintenance scheduling and give administrators data to time vehicle replacements. County staff said their current system was designed for manufacturing work and requires multiple outside spreadsheets to track assignments, parts, collisions and fuel use.
The commissioners were shown two vendor estimates. One quote carried a high upfront cost, listed in the meeting as about $98,763 with an annual support cost around $16,983; an alternative product had a roughly $5,500 upfront charge and a roughly $21,200 annual cost based on an estimated 240 assets. Staff said the lower‑upfront option would cost more over many years but would save substantially on initial spending and integrate with the county’s fuel provider and other systems.
County fleet staff and the court emphasized practical benefits beyond invoices: a mechanic could record parts usage at a tablet while working in the bay, the system would import mileage reports from the county fuel vendor, send reminders ahead of scheduled services and score vehicles to indicate replacement timing. Staff said that one mechanic currently spends roughly 40 percent of his day entering data into the legacy system, which has grown more burdensome as the county fleet expanded.
The court asked for follow up on integration, total multiyear cost, and whether the chosen product could be used across precincts or at remote barns. Commissioners flagged ongoing staffing shortages in the shop and pressed for information on how the software would change day‑to‑day workload and the county’s budget timing for purchase and annual support.
The discussion was part of a broader fiscal review of department 0120 (maintenance of equipment) and capital requests for FY2026; the court did not adopt a purchase on July 17 but directed staff to return with clarified quotes, confirmed integration with Tyler (the county’s enterprise software) and more precise multiyear cost comparisons.","County staff told commissioners that manual fleet tracking is consuming mechanic time and that a modern fleet-management system could reduce labor, improve preventive maintenance and inform vehicle replacement decisions; commissioners discussed two vendor quotes and budget timing.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

County insurance broker warns 2026 health plan may run a nearly $800,000 shortfall; RFP finalists due before budget adoption

County staff recommend holding most outside‑entity grants steady; animal shelter billing and Waco Family Medicine request draw discussion

Commissioners review county vehicle purchases, take‑home policies and jail transport mileage

McLennan County officials weigh new fleet-management software as maintenance burdens grow