Board hears clarification on Western County Health Services premium figures amid public question on cost-sharing

A public comment read by Speaker 6 relayed a message from Mary Stryka that the board was divided over whether Western County Health Services should absorb an $11,000 increase in employee health insurance premiums for 2026 and that Harshbarger had recommended splitting the increase 50/50 with employees.

Speaker 6 read and then clarified the cited figures: "For 2025, total premiums, employee and employer, was 2,270,000. For 2026, when Kathy was talking about the 1,926,000, that was just employer contribution ... For 2026, it will be 2,334,000." Those numbers were offered as clarifications in response to the public comment; the transcript does not record a formal vote or resolution adopting a cost-sharing change during the provided segments.

Why it matters: the distribution of insurance premium increases affects hospital employees’ take-home pay and the hospital’s operating costs. Board members acknowledged the question and said they would present the financial update later in the meeting after executive session, so a final decision was not recorded in the transcript.

What was said: Speaker 6 read Mary Stryka's text and summarized Harshbarger's recommended 50/50 split; Speaker 3 and others thanked Speaker 6 for the clarification. The board said it would try to ensure remote commenters were reconnected for parts of the financial update.

Next steps: the board scheduled the financial update after the executive session; any formal decision on premium-sharing was not included in these segments and would likely appear in the later financial update or a subsequent meeting.