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Board approves $10-per-month change to trustee health-and-welfare cap allowing opt-out
Summary
After a presentation from HR, trustees approved lowering the board health-and-welfare cap by $10 per month (kept consistently $10 below the employee cap) so individual trustees can opt out of the offered plan; staff provided monthly-dollar examples and legal context.
The Mendocino County Office of Education board voted Aug. 11 to set the board members' health-and-welfare cap $10 per month below the employee cap and allow individual trustees to opt out of participation in the district-sponsored health plan.
Becky Jeffries, director of human resources, told trustees this approach followed legal counsel guidance and the StayWell JPA bylaws. "What you currently are paying as of July 1 ... $1,291.15 per month. If you maintained that amount, then your current insurance premium monthly would be $442.78," Jeffries said while walking trustees through sample calculations. Under the proposal the H&W cap would be $1,281.15 per month, which the presenter said would change a trustee's out‑of‑pocket figure.
Trustees asked whether Medicare-eligible members could receive a supplemental option; Jeffries said staff will raise the question with StayWell. Board members also discussed equity and recruitment implications, with some arguing the opt‑out could broaden the pool of prospective trustees. After discussion the board approved the staff recommendation by voice vote.
Staff said the board may revisit the policy if unintended consequences arise; the board directed staff to coordinate implementation details with HR.
