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Atoka board approves budget amendment, switches employee benefits and moves meeting time earlier
Summary
Atoka’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen on March 11 approved a FY2025 budget amendment increasing the donations line, adopted new employee-benefit plans and broker with projected savings, and changed the monthly meeting start time to 6:30 p.m.; votes were by roll call or voice and measures passed unanimously.
The Board of Mayor and Aldermen of Atoka voted March 11 to amend the town’s fiscal year 2025 general fund, approve a new employee-benefits broker and provider package, and change the regular monthly meeting start time.
On final consideration the board approved an ordinance amending the FY25 budget to increase the donations expense line from $7,000 to $9,650 to cover a late request from the Boys and Girls Club. The ordinance was read by title and passed on a roll-call vote with all members present voting yes.
The board also adopted a resolution to move the town’s employee health, dental and vision coverage from the state plan to a brokered arrangement with Clay and Lane Insurance and to select MetLife for life/AD&D and disability coverage. The town administrator said the changes will include a Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO option, an increased life insurance benefit (from $25,000 to $50,000), employer-paid short- and long-term disability, and a Flexible Spending Account rollover provision. The administrator and mayor said the change will realize substantial savings; comments during the meeting cited savings ‘north of $200,000’ and a later remark estimated about $278,000. The resolution anticipates an April 1, 2025 effective date and includes an FSA rollover beginning April 1 and a matching contribution schedule effective January 2026.
Separately, the board approved an ordinance on final passage to amend the municipal code so the April meeting and future regular meetings will start at 6:30 p.m. rather than 7:00 p.m. The council said the change will be reflected in the usual advertising and meeting notices.
All three measures were approved either by voice vote (consent-related motions) or by roll call; no negative votes were recorded during the meeting.
The board said staff will distribute details about the benefit changes to employees and hold informational sessions on March 13 and 14 with vendor representatives available to answer questions.
Next steps: the budget amendment and meeting-time ordinance are effective per the language of their ordinances; the benefits changes are scheduled to go into effect on April 1, 2025, with some FSA and matching provisions phased in in 2026.
