Pueblo County approves insurance renewals after HUB International shows first rate decreases in years

Pueblo County Commissioners on Jan. 28 approved resolutions renewing the county's participation in the Colorado Counties property and casualty pool and the Colorado Counties workers' compensation pool following a presentation from HUB International on the county's insurance exposures and claims history.

The presentation, delivered by Jennifer Walker of HUB International, showed a multi-year breakout of exposures and claims, and noted this renewal includes what Walker called the first meaningful rate decreases the county has seen in recent years. Commissioners unanimously approved the two resolutions on the statutory meeting agenda.

Walker told the board the pool groups Colorado counties to purchase reinsurance collectively and that the county's exposure base has risen in several categories. She flagged two key drivers: a rise in the county's recognized revenue tied to the new detention center, which increased the general-liability exposure, and a rise in the number of licensed vehicles the county insures. "This renewal, actually, we're seeing really favorable rate decreases, which is really exciting," Walker said. She added the pool structure and recent reinsurance-market pricing helped produce the decrease.

The presentation separated the property and casualty portion (buildings, autos, roads, general liability) from workers' compensation. Walker said property and casualty average rates fell roughly 20%, even though the county's contribution rose because of higher revenue/exposure numbers. On general liability she said the county's revenue recognition for the detention center was a major factor in increased contribution on that line.

On workers' compensation, Walker said payroll grew about 14% from 2024 to 2025, while the workers' comp rate fell about 8%; that combination led to an overall cost increase of about 25% year over year. She emphasized the claims history: recent years showed lower claims payouts, which helped drive the rate decrease. "If you continue in that trend, having lower claims than what you're paying out in premium, you'll continue to see that drive the cost down," Walker said.

Commissioners asked for clarification of limits and pool structure. When asked whether the $275,000,000 revenue figure was the limit of insurance coverage, Walker said that figure reflected anticipated revenue and not the liability limit; she estimated the pooled coverage has liability layers that in practice have not been exhausted. "I've never seen those limits been exhausted through a public entity pool in Colorado," Walker said.

Commissioners pressed for a short work session overview focused on structure, deductibles and alternative strategies to control future cost trends. Kevin Keilbach of HUB International offered to schedule a 10-minute work-session briefing to show the nuts and bolts of the policy and the county's deductible structure. Commissioners supported scheduling that briefing to aid budget forecasting.

Votes at a glance

- Item 2a: Resolution regarding county participation in the Colorado Counties property and casualty pool — Approved (motion carried). - Item 2b: Resolution regarding county participation in the Colorado Counties workers' compensation pool — Approved (motion carried). - Item 2c: Resolution approving annual audit services contract with CliftonLarsonAllen, not to exceed $200,000 — Approved (motion carried). - Item 2d: Resolution approving a right-of-entry agreement with the U.S. Army for environmental assessment at Pueblo Chemical Depot (60-month agreement, terminable with 12 months' notice) — Approved (motion carried). - Item 2e: Resolution renewing contract with Gilbert Romero/Capital Success Group for legislative representation Feb. 1'Sept. 30, 2025 — Approved (motion carried). - Item 2f: Resolution appointing members to the Pueblo County Liquor and Marijuana Licensing Board (staff-recommended appointees Modesto Cartagena and Steve Cornetta) — Approved (motion carried).

Ending

Commissioners thanked HUB International for the presentation and asked staff to schedule the suggested short work-session briefing so the board can better plan for insurance and budget implications in upcoming fiscal years.