City renews property and casualty insurance for 2026 at $373,385 after deductible changes

The Atchison City Commission approved the 2026 renewal of property and casualty insurance, with staff reporting a negotiated premium of $373,385 — about $15,000 under the budgeted $389,000. City Manager Mark Westoff said the city made targeted deductible increases (property damage, errors-and-omissions, law enforcement deductibles) and negotiated appraisal values with the broker to reach the lower premium while retaining broad coverage and increasing cybersecurity protections.

Westoff said the city elected not to put the coverage out for bid this year and instead renewed with the incumbent insurer after broker advice. Commissioners asked about historical deductible costs and whether those increased deductibles would lead to higher out‑of‑pocket spending on smaller claims; staff said the city has not seen significant large claims in recent years and typically manages minor auto claims in‑house to limit claim filings. The commission approved the renewal and directed staff to monitor claim exposure and deductible impacts.