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Carver County board approves doubling employee health incentive to $200 for 2026
Summary
The board voted to raise the county’s voluntary employee health incentive from $100 to $200 starting in 2026 and to delegate authority to employee relations to pursue memoranda of agreement with interested bargaining units. Staff estimated the redesigned program would require a 2026 budget of $68,000 funded largely by internal savings and one-time funds.
Carver County commissioners approved a staff recommendation to increase the county’s voluntary employee health incentive from $100 to $200, starting in 2026, and delegated authority to employee relations to negotiate memoranda of agreement with participating bargaining units.
Danielle Griesmer, occupational health and safety manager in employee relations, told the board the county adopted the health incentive program in 2012 and that the program is intended to increase preventive-care participation. Griesmer said staff recommended increasing the program budget to $68,000 for 2026—an $50,000 increase above the current $18,000 allocation—to cover higher participation if the larger incentive spurs enrollment.
Griesmer said approximately $9,000 of the $50,000 would come from reductions in wellness-technology costs, $41,000 from lower-than-projected dental plan renewal costs, and additional one-time health partners funds could provide up to $47,000 of buffer if participation exceeded projections. Staff projected roughly 110 participants (2024 level) would cost about $34,000 at the higher incentive; a 50% participation increase (about 165 people) would cost about $51,000; doubling participation (about 220 people) would cost about $68,000.
Commissioner Uttermann moved and Commissioner Anderson seconded the motion to adopt the changes. Commissioners who spoke in favor framed the increase as an investment in early detection that could reduce longer-term health costs. Commissioner Workman thanked staff for data and expressed support while noting the difficulty of calculating return on investment. The motion passed by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the minutes.
Staff noted that if participation exceeded estimates, one-time health partners funds would be used for 2026 and that ongoing funding would be incorporated into future budgets if higher participation persisted.
