Granite County approves 2026–27 insurance renewals, switches cyber carrier

The Granite County Board of County Commissioners on June 9 approved the county's fiscal year 2026–27 insurance renewals and authorized changing the county's cyber liability carrier after presentations from the Montana Association of Counties (MACo) and insurance broker Marsh McLennan Agency.

Hope Barker of MACo and Rody Holman of Marsh McLennan reviewed the Property and Casualty renewal, telling commissioners the county's overall renewal reflected a 15.59% increase largely attributable to updated property appraisals and higher replacement-cost estimates for county buildings and contents. Barker said the new policy includes zoning, ethics and floodplain defense coverage at no additional premium subject to a $10,000 deductible. Commissioners asked staff and the county attorney to determine whether historic replacement-value coverage is required for the courthouse and jail or whether standard replacement cost coverage could be used.

"Updated appraisals and rising replacement costs are driving the increase," Barker said, and she outlined risk-management resources available through MACo's Property and Casualty Trust. After discussing options and possible legal requirements for historic structures, Commissioner McLure moved to approve the Property and Casualty renewal with staff directed to investigate historic-replacement requirements; Commissioner Adler seconded and the motion carried unanimously.

Marsh McLennan's Rody Holman next presented the Workers' Compensation renewal through Montana State Fund, reporting that Granite County's experience modification factor increased from 0.97 to 1.26 based on recent claims experience. Holman noted Montana State Fund agreed to a 20% schedule-rating adjustment to offset part of the premium increase and reminded commissioners that dividend distributions have benefited the county in prior years, though future dividends are not guaranteed. Commissioner Adler moved to approve the workers' compensation renewal; Commissioner McLure seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

Holman also reviewed cyber liability options and recommended moving the county's coverage from the Coalition program to CFC Corporation after remarketing showed cost savings and comparable coverage provisions; the Board approved the carrier change unanimously.

The meeting also included Safety Committee updates tied to insurance and workers' compensation outcomes. Rody Holman reported that previously discussed claims had been closed and emphasized the county's early return-to-work program as a method to reduce wage-loss claims and improve the experience modification factor. The Safety Committee approved updates to employee emergency-action plans and revised "grab-and-go" workers' compensation packets to clarify supervisor responsibilities for incident investigations and return-to-work procedures.

County staff will follow up on the historic replacement-coverage question and return findings to the Board. The Safety Committee scheduled its next quarterly meeting for Sept. 8, 2026.