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City staff project 0-mill proposal and present 5% increase in employee health premiums
Summary
City staff presented a proposed 0-millage rate for the 2025 tax year and previewed a 5% increase in Blue Cross Blue Shield premiums for 2026; staff proposed modest employee cost-sharing changes and recommended adjustments to plan payroll splits, with council discussion and no final vote recorded.
City staff presented a preliminary tax-rate discussion and an employee-benefits update during the Aug. 20 work session.
Jody presented the annual millage materials and noted that Hiram's recommended proposal for the 2025 tax year is a 0-mill change; staff said there was no indication at the retreat or budget hearing of a desire to change the current millage. Jody noted the standard advertising requirements that accompany millage-rate setting and that formal adoption must follow required public notices.
Kathy presented anticipated health insurance premium changes from Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) Blue Cross Blue Shield for plan year 2026. She said the city faces a projected 5% overall increase in premiums and proposed modest employee cost-sharing adjustments to create greater separation among plan tiers: for the $2,000-deductible plan, she proposed a 1% employee increase and 4% employer contribution; for the $1,500 plan a 2.5% split both ways; for the $750 deductible plan the full 5% would fall to employees. Kathy said prior increases had been absorbed entirely by the employer and that staff recommended introducing some separation in cost-sharing going forward. The council discussed the proposals but took no final action during the work session.
