Aumsville council adds additional CIS plan option and raises employee opt‑out incentive to $500

The Aumsville City Council voted to add an additional CIS medical-plan option to employee benefit choices for 2027 and to increase the employee opt‑out incentive to $500 per month.

Ron (city administrator) said the CIS plan presented sits between the cost levels of the city’s existing plans and was offered as a no-cost option for the city while giving staff another choice. He noted changes in provider networks (including Salem-area network changes) and said staff will continue evaluating available coverage as health‑care costs and coverage percentages change over time.

Councilor (S6) asked whether the $500 opt‑out amount is monthly or one-time; Ron confirmed the $500 figure is a monthly payment to eligible employees who opt out of city coverage. Ron explained the new opt‑out structure gives employees a stronger incentive to opt out where they are double-covered and could save the city premium costs when employees decline coverage.

A motion to add the CIS plan (referred to in the meeting audio as “Sunrest” or transcribed as “Surest”) to the 2027 benefit options and to update the opt‑out incentive to $500 passed by voice vote.

Councilors and staff noted the city continues to offer the existing Regence high‑deductible plan and a Kaiser option; staff said they will continue evaluating market options as costs rise.

Implementation details (such as exact eligibility and enrollment mechanics) were not specified in the meeting and will be handled by staff and the city’s benefits administrator.