Scotland County commissioners weigh health‑plan changes and a 5% COLA, authorize Budget Committee to decide before open enrollment

Scotland County's preliminary budget presentation on April 22 put personnel and health benefits at the center of commissioners' attention. County Manager Snead told the Board the draft shows $58 million in expenditures and $55 million in revenues, and includes a proposed 5% cost‑of‑living adjustment for county staff. Snead estimated each percentage point of COLA costs roughly $300,000 across the county's roughly 344 employees.

HR Director Monnie English said she had shopped the county's health plan with four brokers and the consistent result was that better pricing was not available without raising deductibles. She presented two options: keep the current plan and increase the county contribution (current county contribution $1,200 toward a $3,300 deductible) or move to a higher deductible and increase the annual HSA contribution so the county would provide $2,400 toward a $5,000 deductible, an option she said would save approximately $600,000 a year.

Commissioners discussed trades between COLA and insurance costs. "One percent would generate about $300,000," Commissioner Ivey said while advocating an employee survey. Vice Chair O'Neal urged a quick staff survey to ask whether employees would prefer a lower COLA to preserve current insurance levels; Commissioners agreed the Budget Committee (Commissioners Ivey, Shelley and O'Neal) should be empowered to finalize the insurance choice before open enrollment, with the Board to ratify the decision at the May meeting. County staff said open enrollment timelines required a decision within weeks.

No final action on COLA or insurance was taken at the session; staff were directed to send a short employee survey, and the Budget Committee was authorized to act on the insurance plan and report back for ratification at the May meeting.