Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Employee Benefits topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Selma council approves 2026 health, dental and vision funding changes; retirees raise concerns
Summary
The Selma City Council on Nov. 4 voted to adopt revised health, dental and vision contribution rates for 2026 after the city’s health‑insurance committee recommended additional funding to shore up the self‑insured plan.
The Selma City Council on Nov. 4 voted to adopt revised health, dental and vision contribution rates for 2026 after the city’s health‑insurance committee recommended additional funding to shore up the self‑insured plan.
Human Resources Director Margie Fowler explained the committee’s reasoning: the city is self‑insured and needs to begin building a reserve to smooth spikes in claims. Fowler told council the group recommended an overall 15% increase to plan funding, to be shared between the city and employees, and moved the payroll schedule for benefits from 24 to 26 pay periods to align deductions.
"We're recommending a 15% increase, overall in the plan," Fowler said during the presentation, and later noted that a clerical correction changed one dental family rate slightly.
Several retirees spoke during public comment. Theresa Salas, who represents retirees on the committee, said retirees now pay the full premium for dental and vision and receive an $80 monthly city stipend. Salas said that, because dental and vision costs are rising, "with the city giving us that $80, we're still gonna be paying, about $22 a month out of our own pocket," and asked the council to consider increasing the stipend to reduce the burden on retirees on fixed incomes.
Council members and staff asked for follow‑up numbers and asked staff to return with scenarios showing the budgetary effect of small stipend increases. Finance staff confirmed the self‑insurance fund (internal service fund) will hold reserves and the city will continue monitoring claims, reinsurance and administration costs.
Why it matters: As a self‑insured plan, the city bears claims risk; building a reserve is intended to stabilize rates over multiple years but increases near‑term contributions and retiree out‑of‑pocket costs.
What’s next: Staff will publish open‑enrollment materials, return to council with additional modeling on retiree stipend impacts and continue quarterly health‑insurance committee review.
