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Board approves keeping Cigna and splitting 8% premium increase with employees
Summary
After a presentation from Human Resources and Willis Towers Watson, the board approved renewing the city’s Cigna plan and voted to split an 8% premium increase with employees 50/50 for the plan year ending 03/31/2027.
Human Resources Director Amanda Bucklew presented the health-insurance renewal and said Willis Towers Watson negotiated renewal options that left Cigna as the recommended provider. Bucklew said the market produced few competitive offers and Willis helped negotiate a renewal that represented an 8% increase for the city’s plan year.
Board members discussed plan design alternatives — higher deductibles versus preserving benefits — and the impact on lower-paid employees. Bucklew said the city has used Cigna since 2017, that the plan has produced significant rebate returns historically, and that Willis Towers Watson had negotiated higher quoted increases down to 8 percent.
After discussion, the board voted to split the 8% increase 50/50 between the city and employees for the plan year ending March 31, 2027, and to proceed with renewal on the recommended plan. Several members urged a budget-level conversation about benefits ahead of next year’s renewal cycle.
Why this matters: Health-benefit renewals affect city employees’ take-home pay and the municipality’s personnel budget; the short notice of renewal prompted debate over timing and potential benefit-design changes.
What’s next: Staff will implement open-enrollment communications and include health-benefit strategy in upcoming budget discussions.
