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Klamath County reviews insurance premium options, cyber quote gap narrowed
Summary
County staff reviewed multiple liability, equipment and cyber insurance options, discussed possible deductible changes and a one-year comparison between Cowbell and CIS cyber quotes. The board authorized staff signatures on insurance documents.
Klamath County commissioners heard a staff presentation on alternative insurance premium options and possible changes to liability and property deductibles, including an updated cyber insurance quote, and discussed authorizing a county official to sign related documents.
County staff presented two primary options that adjust deductibles for public entity liability, auto liability and equipment coverage. A $50,000 deductible on CIS liability would lower public entity liability coverage costs and change auto liability numbers; raising equipment deductibles to $50,000 or $100,000 would remove items from the insured schedule but produce relatively modest savings, staff said.
The presentation showed a smaller premium gap on cyber liability: a Cowbell quote of just under $18,000 compared with a CIS quote just under $21,000, with CIS offering $100,000 more in limits and a lower deductible in the staff comparison. "It's almost apples for apples in a sense," the presenter said when comparing Cowbell and CIS, while noting Cowbell's coverage elements appeared broader.
Commissioners discussed risks and payback timelines. Staff cautioned a larger liability deductible could pay off if the county had a year with few claims, while a lower auto deductible likely remains preferable because most recent claims were auto-related. On equipment, removing dozens of items from the schedule would produce limited overall premium reduction compared with the retained exposure.
Separately, staff reported an administrative correction from the county's workers' compensation underwriter labeled "SAFE" that reduced the county's tier and lowered rates across most class codes; the underwriter offered a revised retro plan and lowered the county's maximum cap on exposure. Staff asked the board to approve authorizing Leslie Hunter to sign insurance and grant-related documents connected to the renewals and retro plan.
By voice vote, the board authorized Leslie Hunter to sign the applications and documents related to the insurance renewals (motion passed). The county will also share the cyber analysis with CIS underwriters to request clarification on coverages noted in the comparison.
The county indicated staff will continue comparing Cowbell and CIS for cyber coverage and revisit deductible choices next year if the premium gap narrows further.
