A Mako PCT representative told Daniels County commissioners on June 2 that the county’s property-and-casualty renewal for 2025–26 will reflect a 5.99% contribution increase, below the pool average and driven by national trends and reinsurance market pressure.

The presenter said Daniels County’s increase was “5.99% rate increase this year,” and noted that the pool trustees had recommended a split of 2% for inflation, 4% for property and 5% for liability. The presenter also said the county’s coverage remains with Ambridge and that “our premium is just under a million dollars.”

Why it matters: the renewal determines the county’s liability and property insurance costs for the next budget year and signals how national reinsurance market moves can affect local contributions.

Mako’s presenter reviewed national loss trends and explained why counties in Montana are affected even if they haven’t experienced the same kinds of catastrophic losses seen in other states. “We might not have a claim in SCOBY, but if you have it somewhere else in Daniels County, it’s still going to affect your loss ratios for the entire county,” the presenter said. The presenter described a recent situation in which a reinsurance market participant threatened to drop coverage, forcing the pool to consider a much higher reinsurance option: “we had to go look for best option … $4,200,000.” The presenter said the pool’s relationship with Ambridge has kept costs lower to date.

The presentation emphasized two market drivers: property-catastrophe losses nationally and an “increasing propensity to sue” on the liability side. The presenter said jury awards and litigation-financing practices are pushing liability payouts higher and cited a rise in plaintiff-friendly awards. On Daniels County’s loss history, the presenter said the pool calculates a county loss ratio using both paid and reserved (incurred) amounts and noted that open claims can depress a county’s reported loss ratio until those cases close. The presenter pointed to a still-open claim from July 1, 2022, alleging civil-rights violations involving the sheriff’s office and said that case remains reserved in the accounting.

Mako staff members introduced during the presentation included Dan O’Malley (public safety risk manager), Brandon Harris (peer review coordinator), Mackenzie McCarthy (general counsel and HR), Karen Alley (land-use attorney), Nancy Iverson (governmental finance director) and Carly King (IT manager). The presenter described the services those staff provide: training, grant help, detention-facility reviews, cybersecurity planning and legal advice. The presenter said counties that consult those services and coordinate on personnel matters may be able to avoid or reduce future claims. “If you do have cause and you reach out to Mackenzie … we will waive the deductible to defend that claim if you have worked with Mackenzie prior to that,” the presenter said.

No formal action was taken at the meeting on the renewal documents presented; the session was informational. County staff and the presenter discussed claims details and agreed to follow up with additional claim-status information for commissioners who requested it.

Ending: Commissioners received the renewal presentation and asked for follow-up on open claims and other details; no vote or contract action was taken during the June 2 meeting.