County told 21% health-insurance premium increase; sales-tax receipts trend lower, raising budget concerns

County finance staff warned Washington County supervisors on April 10 that the county’s medical insurance renewal will cost roughly 21% more for the coming year, and that recent sales-tax deposits have trended below last year’s levels — facts committee members said will tighten next year’s county budget.

County staff said the recommended renewal keeps the same carriers — Highmark for medical, Anthem for vision and Delta Dental for dental — but would raise premiums about 21% overall. The county currently pays 75% of employee coverage and employees pay 25%; staff said that arrangement will remain and that the increase will apply to both employer and employee shares. Open enrollment is scheduled to begin in April if supervisors authorize renewal contracts.

Committee members and staff discussed the local impact: county staff said the increase is driven by claims cost and higher pharmacy expenses in particular. Staff told the committee they had discussed cost-control options and prescription programs with the county’s benefits broker and would present those options during open enrollment. Speakers warned the increase will be felt by lower-paid employees, many of whom already hold multiple jobs.

Separately the county treasurer/budget staff reported three of the last five monthly sales-tax deposits were below the same deposits from the prior year, a trend that prompted questioning about whether growth assumptions used in next year’s budget are realistic. Staff said they will provide the board with the state deposit schedule and a ten-year recap of town tax collections to help supervisors understand timing and pockets of strength or weakness among municipalities.

Finance staff said that, holding other assumptions constant, the county’s current forecast would require roughly a 13% increase in property taxes to maintain present service levels if no other adjustments are made; staff emphasized they are still refining forecasts and are preparing to present options during the budget process.

Committee members moved to authorize the county to sign renewal contracts with Highmark, Anthem and Delta Dental and to proceed with open enrollment outreach. The motion passed in committee.

Key figures discussed in committee: - Medical renewal increase (presented): approximately 21% - County/employee cost-sharing: county 75% / employee 25% (unchanged) - Example county expenditure shift (approximate): projected impact on county budget discussed, staff estimated a scenario requiring a 13% tax increase if no offsetting actions are taken

Staff said they will provide supervisors with more granular numbers, benefit-option materials for open enrollment, and a sales-tax deposit schedule that maps receipts to sales periods as part of the next budget workshop and committee packets.