Commissioners approve KCAMP contribution after debating higher deductibles to cut premium
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Summary
Brown County approved a KCAMP annual contribution of about $194,673 for 2026, lower than the budgeted $210,000, after agreeing to increase deductibles. Commissioners noted the savings comes with greater potential county exposure and asked staff to continue insurance reviews.
Brown County commissioners voted to approve the county's KCAMP (property/casualty) contribution for 2026 after discussing coverage changes that reduced the premium but raised deductibles.
Staff told the board the renewal came in lower than earlier estimates: the contribution was calculated at $194,673 versus a $210,000 line in the budget. Commissioners and staff explained the premium reduction reflected changes to deductible levels and aggregate limits (examples cited in the discussion included raising faithful-performance limits and increasing aggregate from $3,000,000 to $6,000,000). Speaker 1 said the county had budgeted $210,000 but the renewal "came in at $1.94" per unit (rather than $2.10 as budgeted). Another commissioner cautioned that raising deductibles increases the county's exposure if the county experiences a loss.
After discussion about timing for future insurance reviews, a motion was made and seconded to approve the KCAMP contribution for 2026; the board voted in favor.
Why it matters: The change lowers near-term county insurance costs but increases the county's potential out-of-pocket exposure for claims. Commissioners directed staff to pursue further insurance-review work early next year to identify additional savings or risk mitigation steps.
What the board directed next: Staff will schedule an insurance review in the next fiscal cycle, analyze long-term risk mitigation strategies, and report back to the commission.