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Taos County approves 1% buy-down of employee health contributions
Summary
The Taos County Commission unanimously approved Resolution 2025-30 to pick up an additional 1% of employee contributions for Municipal Plan 4, increasing the county share to 33.94% effective July 2025, the county's HR director said.
The Taos County Commission voted unanimously to adopt Resolution 2025-30, authorizing the county to pick up an additional 1% of employee contributions to Municipal Plan 4 effective July 2025.
Gina Elam, Taos County human resources director, told commissioners, “the municipal plan 4 covers the majority of Taos County employees, and we are requesting a 1% buy down of the employees portion.” The measure was moved by Commissioner Vigil and seconded by Vice Chair Romero; the clerk called the roll and the motion passed with all commissioners voting yes.
The action raises the county's contribution on the employees' portion to 33.94% if approved, Elam said during the meeting. Commissioners asked how the county compares with others; Elam said county contributions vary and that there is a statutory maximum allowing counties to pay up to 75% of employee contributions. She also confirmed the change is a routine annual item that had been omitted from a prior agenda and was brought forward for approval.
Why it matters: the buy-down reduces the share employees pay for health coverage under Municipal Plan 4 and will take effect July 2025, changing the county/employee cost split for covered staff. The commission recorded the vote as unanimous.
What happened next: with the resolution adopted, county HR will implement the 1% buy-down for eligible employees under Municipal Plan 4 beginning in July 2025.
Speakers quoted in this article spoke during the agenda item on Resolution 2025-30; procedural roll-call confirmations were recorded by the clerk.
