Treasurer reports steady revenues, rising health claims; district taps reserves to offset premiums
Summary
Treasurer Missus Roberts told the board revenues are tracking forecast, reserves remain healthy, but health-claims costs are up ~27%; the district raised premiums and plans to use reserves to offset increases while monitoring claims.
Treasurer Missus Roberts presented the district's October financial and insurance reports, noting revenues are tracking forecasts but some line-item shifts and higher health claims warrant attention.
Roberts said the district's year-to-date revenue is about $13.4 million versus $13.5 million last year, with property-tax receipts down (driven by a one-time payment in the prior year) and income-tax receipts up about 6 percent. She said expenditures are just under $9 million and that an accounting timing shift (ESC payments) makes some categories look higher on paper this month.
On insurance, Roberts said health-plan claims were up about 27 percent year over year. The district recently finalized a plan review with UnitedHealthcare and increased monthly premiums (plan A by 10%, plan B by 3%). She said the district planned to use roughly $360,000 from about $4 million in reserves to offset premium increases and had used $344,000 so far.
"We are still in a fine position," Missus Roberts said, noting dental insurance is performing well (claims down about 10% and a balance around $260,000).
The board also accepted two donations on the consent agenda: $1,000 from the Lowell and Carolyn Fisher family for the National Honor Society Christmas shopping trip and a 1961 Case 630 tractor donated to the high-school agriculture program (approximate value $1,000).
