Rutherford County insurance fund shows budget shortfall; committee accepts financial and OSHA reports

Rutherford County’s Insurance Committee accepted the March financial report and an OSHA report at its May 1 meeting, after staff outlined month and year‑to‑date shortfalls in the county insurance funds.

The county’s Fund 264 showed $2,406,156 in revenue and $2,557,704 in expenditures for March, a negative monthly difference of $151,548, staff reported. For the 2025 calendar year through March, revenues were $6,181,046 versus expenditures of $6,965,030, a negative $783,994. For fiscal year 2024–25 to date, staff reported total revenues of $17,928,625 and expenditures of $19,983,311, a negative difference of $2,054,686.

The committee heard a workers’ compensation and OJI (on‑the‑job injury) breakdown for March: workers’ comp $655,090 and OJI $79,620.49 for a monthly total of $734,710.49 (presented as $80,275.58 in the transcript context). Year to date, workers’ comp totaled $7,179,850 and OJI $819,211.65 for a combined $8,826,391.50 (reported as $8,826,391.50). Committee members also heard that the month’s total incidents were 15 (11 at Board of Education, 4 at County General), bringing the year‑to‑date incident count to 50 with 32 recordables, 5 lost‑time claims, 21 restricted‑duty claims and 6 other recordables.

Staff reported month‑end reserves of $98,740 and year‑to‑date reserves of $256,635; $47,778.14 of claims have closed to date. At the time of the report, six employees were out of work related to claims; two had returned and four remained out of work. The committee accepted the OSHA report and financials by voice vote.

The reports were presented by Ed Elam (staff presenter) and an OSHA report by Marissa/“Ms. Thompson” (staff member). The committee took no additional formal action beyond acceptance of the reports.

The committee moved on to other agenda items after the acceptance vote.