Banner County commissioners reviewed health‑benefit accounts — including the health insurance trust (HRA), health savings account (HSA) contributions and cash‑in‑lieu arrangements — and directed staff to begin a benefits review with an outside consultant.

Commissioners and staff said previous years’ bookkeeping and differing uses of accounts have created inconsistencies. Staff described differences between HRA (reimbursements by receipt) and HSA (fixed monthly county contribution) and noted changes in participation have shifted costs between accounts.

Several commissioners said the county should hire a consultant to review benefits administration and to recommend a standardized approach. "If you're wrong, you're gonna be wrong big," one commissioner said about internal policy risk, and staff recommended bringing in the vendor that the county’s insurance broker had previously suggested.

The board asked the clerk to set up a consultation with the vendor, propose a timeline and advertise the meeting if necessary; commissioners suggested a joint meeting with the clerk and treasurer to ensure full participation in the review.

Ending: Commissioners did not adopt policy changes at the workshop; they directed staff to arrange a vendor consultation, to involve the treasurer and clerk, and to bring recommendations back to a publicly noticed meeting.