Truckee council approves health, dental and vision coverage for council members, 3-2 vote

The Truckee Town Council voted 3-2 on Jan. 1, 2025, to allow council members and their families to enroll in the town's health, dental and vision insurance plans, with coverage to begin March 1, 2025. The council also authorized staff to enroll interested members and to place a revised town resolution and associated budget amendment on a future consent calendar to implement the change.

The measure passed after a lengthy public and council debate about timing, cost and the message the change sends following voter approval of Measure E. Council Member Henderson, who moved adoption, framed the change as a modernization of governance and a step to make elected service accessible to a wider pool of candidates. "This isn't about providing health care benefits just to those of us who happen to be sitting up here in this role tonight," Henderson said. "It is ... providing these benefits for those who are willing to take on this role, this service now and in the future." Counsel Andy Morris, the town attorney, told the council that state law permits the council to make this decision and that doing so under properly drafted resolutions is legally permissible: "The law says that if anyone is going to extend health and welfare benefits to you, it's you."

Human resources manager Bonnie Thompson Hardin reviewed the options available under state law and explained why a proposal for full town-paid coverage (the same package department heads receive under individual contracts) was not available: "Because full coverage is just provided to our department heads who have individual employment contracts with the town, it doesn't actually meet this requirement for a large number of employees. So that option is not available to the council." Instead, staff recommended tying council contributions to the town's most generous non-safety bargaining group (the mid‑managers MOU), which establishes a fixed monthly town contribution toward premiums and would require council members to pay any premium above that fixed amount for two‑party or family plans.

Staff presented estimated budget impacts under a conservative scenario that assumed all five council members selected family coverage. For the remainder of the current fiscal year staff requested an additional $40,997; the maximum annual exposure in a single future year was presented as about $170,000. Thompson Hardin told council the figures reflected a conservative projection that includes annual premium escalation assumptions.

Public comment at the meeting was mixed. Twenty-two written comments were in the record before the meeting; staff reported 17 in support and five opposed. Supporters characterized the change as necessary to attract more diverse and younger candidates and to acknowledge the workload and risk elected officials face. Opponents criticized the timing — coming soon after voter approval of Measure E — and said the council should wait for the Baker Tilly operational assessment and put any change in the context of broader budget and staffing priorities.

Council members split along those lines. Council Members Henderson, Klobstad and Polavie voted yes; Council Members Romack and Mayor Zabriskie voted no. The final roll call was recorded as: Romack — no; Vice Mayor Klobstad — yes; Mayor Zabriskie — no; Henderson — yes; Polavie — yes. The motion was made by Council Member Henderson and seconded by Council Member Polavie. Staff said an amended town resolution would be prepared for a future consent calendar item to capture the final implementation details and payroll timing.

The council also clarified that a set of voluntary programs — optional life insurance and supplemental plans, a 457 deferred‑compensation option, and flexible spending accounts for health and dependent care — would be available for council members to elect and that those voluntary plans are paid entirely from the individual council member's stipend (no town subsidy), though staff time will be needed to set them up.

The council's action does not change retiree medical, CalPERS retirement participation, or other contractual employee benefits. If a council member chooses two‑party or family coverage and the premium exceeds the town contribution (as defined by the chosen bargaining‑group benchmark), the council member will be responsible for the difference through payroll deduction. Staff said council members who wish to enroll must meet with human resources by Feb. 3 for payroll processing ahead of the March 1 effective date.

The action was accompanied by a staff request for a budget amendment for the current fiscal year and direction to include the ongoing cost in the next budget, if necessary. The council also asked staff to bring the finalized resolution language back on the consent calendar and to publish the implementation steps and estimated fiscal impact in upcoming budget materials.

Why it matters: The council's decision brings Truckee in line with many nearby agencies that already provide elected‑official benefits and marks a policy change intended to address recruitment and retention concerns for future candidates. It also shifts an ongoing operating expense onto the town's general fund and provoked debate about priorities and timing after a major ballot measure.