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County insurance renewal rises 14.8% as underwriters flag loss history and limited market options
Summary
Commissioners approved the county's insurance renewal on Feb. 3 after staff reported a 14.8% increase year-over-year and read underwriters' decision letters citing loss history and specific claims; excess liability costs rose sharply amid a tight market.
County officials told the Board of Commissioners on Feb. 3 that the county’s annual insurance renewal will increase 14.8% over last year, and staff recommended moving forward with coverage despite a constrained underwriting market.
"Our insurance renewal is up 14.8%, year over year," an unnamed county official reported, explaining that about 10 percentage points were premium increases and 4.8 points reflected additional items added to the policy, including the annex and new vehicles. The county said property coverage rose about 33.6% (reflecting added property values) and law-enforcement liability rose about 31.4%. The most dramatic change was excess liability, which increased 82% (from $50,925 to $92,664).
Staff read excerpts of underwriting responses from multiple insurers explaining why some carriers declined to quote the county. Among the reasons cited were an unfavorable loss history and specific concerns flagged in the claim record: "We are declining due to loss performance," one underwriting note said; another referenced a claim involving the sheriff and a jail matron that is under litigation.
The county also reported a modest improvement in workers' compensation: the experience-modification factor fell to 0.88, lowering that line’s cost.
Commissioners discussed the difficulty of budgeting for an evolving market and noted it limits competitive options. By motion, the board approved moving forward with the presented insurance renewal; the vote was 3–0.
Officials said the county will continue to solicit bids where feasible and monitor market changes, but explained that some umbrella/excess liability coverage is available from a shrinking set of carriers.
