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Health-insurance rise and permissive levy fluctuations complicate county payroll math
Summary
Staff told the commission health insurance costs rose about 6.1% and that permissive-levy changes tied to mill levies could raise or lower county insurance costs, complicating exact budget projections for wage increases.
County staff told the board that health insurance costs for the county increased about 6.1% this year, a rise that reduces the portion of investment income available for salary increases. The presenter said last years insurance cost to the county was roughly $103,182 and that permissive-levy calculations will change when the new mill levy is certified in July, potentially increasing or decreasing the countys levy-funded insurance burden.
Commissioners asked whether pooling insurance with other counties or mid-year adjustments were feasible; staff said Lincoln County participates in a statewide pool (referred to as Mako in the transcript) and that some larger counties self-insure but small cost savings from changes often do not justify operational disruption. Staff recommended final levy calculations await the July mill-levy certification before committing to larger salary increases.
