Saratoga County committee hears sharp February jump in workers' compensation payouts

County officials reported a substantial increase in workers' compensation payouts for February 2026 at a meeting of the New Resources and Insurance Committee. The presenter said the "total payout for February 2026 was 390,42" and attributed most of the rise to four settled cases, including one dating to 2016.

The presenter told the committee the county recorded 25 new claims in February, the same number as in February 2025, and has 170 open claims, down from 182 a year earlier. To date, the county has expended about 23% of its workers' compensation budget, up from roughly 17% at the same point last year.

The county also reviewed the status of a 2021 state buyout fund. The presenter said the county received $4.2 million from New York State in 2021 for 31 potentially eligible claims; 14 of those claims have been settled, three were closed after the claimants died, the presenter said, and the county has realized approximately $1.1 million in savings with an estimated $2.16 million balance remaining to address the 14 open files.

Committee members received an update on the Maplewood Manor settlement project, which was established to resolve up to 37 claims. The presenter said 32 of those claims have been settled and five remain open; those open files are currently costing the county roughly $4,000 a month.

The committee did not conduct a detailed, public discussion of the four individual settled cases at the meeting; the presenter said case-specific questions could be discussed off the side with staff. The committee did not provide a roll-call vote or itemized transaction list in the public record during the presentation. The meeting moved to other agenda items after members had the chance to ask procedural questions and approve minutes.