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Columbus council keeps proposed 3% increase to employee health allowance after 4–1 vote
Summary
After a heated exchange over family coverage and city costs, the Columbus City Council voted 4–1 on April 20 to approve Option A for the FY26/27 employee health allowance at $1,837.52 per month, rejecting a lower alternative favored by one councilor.
Council member Tim Mayo presided over a meeting on April 20 in which the City of Columbus approved a 3% increase to the employee health allowance for FY26/27, voting 4–1 to adopt Option A at $1,837.52 per month rather than Option B at $1,708.00 per month.
The decision followed an extended exchange during unfinished business. Council member Danen Johannes argued against the higher benefit and family coverage, saying the city "has been increasing the health allowance every year" and calling it "unreasonable for the city to continue to pay full insurance for not only for the employee but also for children or spouse." Johannes said he favored Option B as the more fiscally responsible choice.
Council member Dennis Holten countered by reviewing the personnel policy history and the committee work on wages and benefits, noting higher deductibles for plans this year and that the policy calls for a 3% increase. "I can't even believe that we are talking about reducing employee benefits," Holten said, and he urged maintaining the benefit level for city employees.
Cole Waltner moved to approve Option A; Rick White seconded the motion. The roll call vote was Rick White, Dennis Holten, Cole Waltner and Kelly Ault in favor and Danen Johannes opposed. The motion passed.
The council record did not specify additional conditions tied to the allowance change, nor did it record any planned follow‑up actions. The item was approved as a formal amendment to the FY26/27 employee benefit allowance under the adopted personnel policy.
