River Bend opts for employee insurance options after 26% medical-premium hike; property quote lowers budget pressure

River Bend's council workshop on May 11 examined an unexpectedly large medical-insurance renewal and a lower property-insurance quote, and agreed on a staffing insurance strategy to keep the proposed FY26-27 budget balanced.

Town Manager Delane Jackson said the medical-insurance renewal came in about 26% higher than the current coverage, while the proposed budget had only assumed a 10% increase, creating a projected $29,000 shortfall. Jackson said the town's transitional plan status had ended and that the closest available coverage was a gold-level plan at roughly 26% more than current costs.

Jackson said he had met with the town's medical insurance agent and proposed presenting employees with three plan options: two silver-level plans offered at no cost to employees and one gold-level option that would require employees to pay part of the premium. Jackson said that combination would keep costs within the existing budget and could create a small surplus. Councilors agreed to present those options to staff.

Jackson also reported he had received a property-insurance quote from the NC League of Municipalities that was approximately $24,000 less than the amount the town had budgeted, which helps offset the medical-insurance pressure. Councilmembers Brian Leonard and Jeff Weaver asked that the next budget session focus on the tax rate and the town pay plan; council recessed the workshop to May 14 to continue budget deliberations.

Next steps: staff will present the three insurance options to employees and return with final enrollment and cost figures; the council will address tax rate and pay plan at the next scheduled session. The motion to recess until May 14 was moved by Councilman Jeff Weaver and was unanimously approved.