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County staff and benefits broker push ‘CSI’ wellness incentive; commissioners agree to add $2,700 to HR budget
Summary
Kendall County Human Resources and the county’s benefits broker asked commissioners to adopt a county-specific wellness incentive (CSI). Commissioners directed staff to add $2,700 to HR’s meeting expenses line to fund the incentive and to present a formal action item at the next regular court meeting.
Human Resources and Kendall County’s health-benefits broker presented options on Tuesday for a county wellness incentive aimed at increasing annual physicals and dental exams among employees and, the broker said, lowering long-term health claims.
Why it matters: The county participates in a benefits-rewards program that returns money to the employer when employees complete wellness activities. Implementing a county-specific incentive would automatically secure a portion of that employer reward pool, the consultant said, and could be structured in different ways — a raffle for larger gift cards, guaranteed small gift cards, paid time off, or a choice between time off and an entry to a raffle.
What was proposed: The broker presented four options and recommended offering employees a choice, because that approach tends to increase participation. He said the county is eligible for up to $9,000 a year from the carrier’s employer-rewards pool and that implementing the CSI would automatically add $2,700 to the county’s reward payment next year. “By implementing a wellness incentive, you will increase whatever you’re currently getting. You’ll add 30% of that pot,” the broker said.
Budget decision: Commissioners and HR staff agreed to add $2,700 to Human Resources’ meeting-expenses line (Department 4.96) to seed the incentive, and to budget $4,500 in total meeting expenses for FY2026 — interpreting prior HR program income and the $2,700 as the source for the prizes or raffle. HR said the $2,700 could be used to buy gift cards for a raffle timed for the holiday season or to seed PTO-type incentives, noting there may be a lag between incentive payments and carrier reimbursements.
Format and administration: HR said the county’s wellness activities and tracking tools are hosted on the benefits platform (WebMD) and that the vendor handles much of the administration. HR also described employer rewards already earned through the program and said employee participation rates for annual physicals and dental cleanings were below what some peer counties achieve. Commissioners asked HR to bring a formal action item and sample prize allocations to the next regular meeting for final approval.
