Allen County Commissioners on June 27 approved renewal of the county's 2025–26 property and casualty insurance program and a change of primary carrier to Palomar, county staff said.

County risk manager Shanisha Warfield told commissioners the renewal covers general liability, automobile liability, crime insurance and volunteer accident and health insurance for the policy period beginning July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2026.

Warfield said the expiring premium with the broker agency fee was $840,328 and that the proposed Palomar renewal premium is $784,165; with the $40,000 annual agency fee for broker services from USI Insurance Services the total is $824,165. "Although our current carrier, Safety National, has been a strong partner, we recommend switching to Palomar for the 2025–26 policy period," Warfield said. She told the board the county solicited alternative quotes and that Palomar offered the most competitive overall pricing.

Warfield also described the $40,000 broker fee as an annual agency fee payable in four installments of $10,000 and said USI will remain the county's broker of record providing traditional broker services, risk-management work and claim services.

Commissioners asked staff to confirm the net savings year over year; Warfield confirmed the renewal represents a reduction in the county's total cost compared with the current expiring figures. A motion to approve the renewal and continue USI as broker carried by voice vote.

The contract that commissioners approved is for a one‑year policy term beginning July 1, 2025; the board did not approve longer-term carrier arrangements during the meeting.