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Lima council sends proposed part-time council health benefit ordinance to committee after heated debate
Summary
Councilor Thompson introduced an ordinance to extend city medical insurance to part-time elected officials; the mayor opposed it citing self-insurance budget risk; Councilor Thompson withdrew the motion and the council voted to place the measure in the Human Resources committee for further consideration.
The Lima City Council voted to send Ordinance 202-25, a proposed change that would make certain part-time elected officials eligible for city medical insurance, to the Human Resources committee for further consideration after more than an hour of debate.
Councilor Thompson initially moved to pass the ordinance on first reading and Councilor Gordon seconded the motion. The administration, represented on the floor by the mayor, opposed the measure. The mayor said the city is self-insured, is operating under a hiring freeze, and cannot predict costs that would result from extending full medical coverage to part-time officials. She cautioned that a single catastrophic claim could impose immediate, substantial liabilities on the city’s self-insured fund.
“Because we are self insured, these are not fixed premium costs,” the mayor said, explaining that claims are directly tied to costs and that the city is preparing a 2026 budget under uncertain state and federal conditions. Several council members echoed concerns about the fiscal risk and perceptions of elected officials voting to give themselves benefits.
Councilor Wilkerson said he would vote no, adding, “I have a tough time when elected officials can vote for their own pay raise, vote for their own benefits without going through the public.” Councilor Glenn spoke in favor of the proposal, saying councilors work many hours and characterizing the benefit as “a small token” the council had requested.
After discussion, Councilor Thompson withdrew her motion to pass the ordinance on first reading. Councilor Gordon then moved — and the council approved — a motion to place the ordinance into the Human Resources committee so members can continue deliberations and receive additional information. The referral passed without a roll-call vote recorded in the transcript readings of the final motion.
Ending — The council did not adopt Ordinance 202-25 at the meeting; instead it referred the proposal to the Human Resources committee for further study and negotiation.
