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New county risk manager outlines higher premiums, new cyber coverage and plans for pollution liability quotes
Summary
Winnebago County’s new risk management director briefed the Personnel & Finance Committee on Feb. 5: countywide insurance premiums total about $1.3–$1.4 million, liability accounts for half, cyber coverage was upgraded to $2 million with a lower deductible, and a single large highway workers’‑comp claim drove a steep premium increase.
Winnebago County’s new risk management director presented the committee with an overview of the county’s insurance program Feb. 5, describing rising premiums and several coverage changes meant to reduce county exposure.
The director reported the county purchases roughly $1.3–$1.4 million in insurance for 2026, with about 50% of that cost tied to public‑entity liability coverage. He told the committee the county moved from a limited cyber endorsement bundled into liability insurance to a standalone cyber policy with $2 million in limits and a reduced deductible of $25,000. "We purchased a separate cyber liability policy... our limits went up to $2,000,000 from half a million, and we have a lower deductible also, 25K versus 100K," he said.
A single, severe workers’‑comp claim in the highway department — described as nearly fatal and carrying about $3.5 million in medical bills — pushed excess workers’‑comp premiums up; the director attributed a roughly 13% premium increase to that loss. He said the county’s retention for that claim was $500,000 and that the loss will continue to influence claims experience for several years.
Other changes included buying airport terrorism risk coverage for the county’s airport (after broker review), and committee discussion about obtaining pollution liability coverage for roughly 15–16 above‑ground fuel tanks at county facilities. The director also announced a new quarterly countywide vehicle‑accident review committee and described efforts to provide root‑cause and supervisory training in departments with repeat injuries.
Committee members asked whether the pollution quotes would cover cleanup costs; the director said the quotes include cleanup but cautioned that insurers can limit coverage where equipment has been neglected. Members also pressed for more inventory data and replacement schedules to better plan budgets and reduce contingency draws.
