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County staff warn of insurance cost jump as budget hearings approach
Summary
County finance staff told commissioners they included a 19.9% health-insurance increase in budget manuals and will provide updated balances before budget hearings, advising commissioners to review monthly and year-to-date figures.
Sheila, the county staff member presenting the monthly financials, told the commission she prepared two sets of scheduled balances — one through July 31 and a second through Aug. 15 — to give a more accurate picture ahead of the budget hearings.
"We have 2 different sets of scheduled balances," Sheila said, explaining the Aug. 15 balance includes claims the commissioners will consider on Thursday as well as payroll. She warned that insurers have been reluctant to quote new coverage and that staff put a 19.9% increase in health insurance costs into budget manuals "as that's what they originally told us that insurance could go up to."
Sheila said she will provide an updated copy at the start of budget hearings so commissioners "know exactly where we're at," and advised that any midyear additional appropriations should be handled during the scheduled budget process. Commissioners asked for more granular monthly comparisons in addition to year-to-date numbers so trends will be easier to spot.
The commission will begin regular session and then move into budget hearings on Aug. 26; staff promised more exact insurance numbers after a meeting with the county's insurance agent later in the week.
