Public employees, unions and retirees press PEB board to pause cuts and demand audit
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Summary
Dozens of public commenters, including union leaders and retirees, urged the PEB board to reject steep premium hikes, seek an independent audit, and phase any increases to avoid forcing employees onto Medicaid or out of state employment.
Dozens of public commenters told the Public Employees Benefits Program Board on Feb. 24 that proposed premium increases and benefit reductions would cause real hardship for workers and retirees and urged an independent audit before the board changes benefits or raises rates.
Julie Balderson Knight, a state worker who said she works in the Nevada Health Authority Office of Data Analytics, told the board there is "about a $36,000,000 fiscal blind spot" in the current proposal and warned that proposed cuts could trigger roughly $43,000,000 in hidden liabilities for Nevada taxpayers. "What costs the general fund about 5 times more than what this board is, quote, unquote, saving with benefit cuts?" she asked.
Kent Ervin of the Nevada Faculty Alliance said one presentation showed a $130 million deficiency and that more recent figures showed a $56 million discrepancy. Ervin and other speakers asked the board to postpone any decisions about benefit cuts or premium phasing until an independent audit explains how those gaps occurred.
Multiple public-safety employees and retirees warned of workforce impacts. Dan Gordon, president of the Nevada Police Union, said premium increases combined with higher retirement deductions would materially reduce take-home pay and could lead to departures from state service at a time when staffing is already strained. A retired Nevada Highway Patrol sergeant said increases could end the lower insurance costs that made retirement sustainable for many in the agency.
Several speakers asked the board to phase any premium changes over at least three years, preserve employer contributions where possible, and consider alternatives that would close funding gaps without shifting costs onto workers. Speakers also urged the board to analyze equity and the distributional impacts of changes — pointing out that low-wage workers, women and minorities are more likely to be harmed.
Chair Jim Wells and executive officer Teresa Carsten acknowledged the depth of concern and said staff is conducting reconciliations and an internal review; Carsten said she expects additional information to be available at the March meeting. Several speakers asked the interim finance committee of the legislature to help secure an independent audit.
The board closed the public-comment period and moved to agenda item 4; members said they will consider public comments as part of the March deliberations.