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Toccoa commission agrees to 10% insurance renewal after insurer pares proposed 35.08% increase
Summary
At a Sept. 8 work session the City of Toccoa City Commission agreed by consensus to renew employee insurance with CIGNA at a negotiated 10% increase after an insurer initially proposed a 35.08% hike; HR and finance directors said claims are higher this year.
The City of Toccoa City Commission on Sept. 8 unanimously agreed in a work session to renew its employee insurance with CIGNA at a 10% rate increase, City Manager Fredda O. Wheeler said.
Wheeler told commissioners that CIGNA initially proposed a 35.08% increase, but the city negotiated the rate down to 10%: “the initial increase was 35.08% and after further discussion with CIGNA they agreed to hold it to the 10%,” Wheeler said.
Human Resource Director Jan Crawford said the lower-than-expected increase was notable given the city’s recent claims experience. “The 10% renewal is a phenomenal renewal,” Crawford said, adding that the city’s claims are higher this year than last and that CIGNA agreed to a smaller increase to keep the city’s business.
Finance Director Becky Bohannon participated in the review and the commission recorded a unanimous consensus to accept the renewal at 10%. The meeting minutes do not record a formal roll-call vote.
Why it matters: higher insurance costs can affect the city’s operating budget and employee benefit structure; staff indicated the negotiated rate reduces near-term budgetary pressure compared with the insurer’s original proposal.
Next steps: the minutes show the commission supported the renewal by consensus; no additional procedural steps or formal ordinance were recorded in the minutes provided.
