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Commission approves $2 million coverage limit for two insurance items after debate on statutory threshold
Summary
Facing a mismatch between the Governmental Immunity Act threshold and common commercial policy limits, the commission voted 2–1 to approve items 19 and 20 with a $2,000,000 coverage level and asked staff to consider a policy change before the next legislative session.
Commissioners discussed two agenda items about county insurance limits on March 13 and voted to approve them at a $2,000,000 coverage level after a policy debate about consistency with statutory thresholds.
Commissioner Sakovich (named in the record) said his stance had not changed from the prior week and recommended approval consistent with existing commercial policy limits. He explained that the Governmental Immunity Act's threshold has ratcheted upward over time and is now above standard commercial aggregate limits, creating a gap between the statute and many commercial policies.
Another commissioner argued for consistency and urged the county to consider whether to change its own policy ahead of the legislative fix. After staff and commissioners discussed options—including aligning the county limit with insurers or waiting for a statutory change—a motion to approve items 19 and 20 at $2,000,000 was made and seconded. The motion carried 2–1.
Why it matters: The decision sets the county's exposure and coverage floor for the two items approved and signals commissioners' interest in discussing whether to adjust county policy in advance of state action. One commissioner asked staff to return with options for any policy change.
Next steps: Commissioners indicated willingness to revisit the policy with staff to evaluate the gap between commercial policies and statutory liability thresholds.
