Commission reverses recent HRA distribution change, restores prior benefit amounts and front‑loads reimbursements

Vanport County commissioners on Sept. 2 voted to revert a recently proposed change to the county’s health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) and to front‑load HRA disbursements for the plan year after extensive public comment from employee association representatives. Employee association representatives, led in public comment by Sarah Geraszczak, said employees were frustrated the HRA change adopted July 29 was implemented without a clear explanation and that the proposal to distribute HRA funds monthly and to set a flat $3,000 across plans had not been justified as a cost‑saving measure. Association members urged the board to explain the rationale and to consider employee retention and fairness. County finance and benefits staff provided historical usage figures showing the HRA has not been fully expended in prior years (staff cited use rates in the 30–40% range over recent years), which staff said reduced the anticipated budgetary savings from lowering HRA amounts. Commissioners discussed options including front‑loading the HRA and restoring different amounts for single, single‑plus and family coverage. The commission first voted to front‑load HRA disbursements rather than distribute them monthly. Later in the meeting commissioners voted to restore the prior HRA contribution levels the county used before the July change: single $2,100; single plus dependent $3,150; family $4,200. Both votes passed on voice votes without recorded opposition. Commissioners and staff asked county HR and the employee association to meet earlier in the budget cycle in future years to provide more transparency on benefit proposals and changes. Staff said budgeting for health insurance and HRAs uses a multi‑year lookback and that budget numbers reflect an actuarial or historical usage estimate; several commissioners and employee representatives requested clearer breakdowns and earlier consultation during the budget process.