Commissioners Vote 4-1 to Increase Employee Insurance Contributions

At a special meeting July 16, the Fayette County Commissioners Court voted 4-1 to increase dependent healthcare coverage for County employees.

Pct. 1 Commissioner Jason McBroom proposed an increase of $20 or $25 per month to offset the increase in insurance premiums, which went up 16 percent this year.

The County currently covers the entire cost of basic coverage for employees. In addition, the County offers coverage to spouses and children at a great savings to employees.

For example, according to numbers presented at the meeting, under one of the County’s medical plans, coverage for an employee plus their spouse and children costs $3,241.60. That’s up from $2,794.48 per month. The employee’s contribution was just $475.

“If you take that 16% increase and you pass it on to the employee totally, it would have been $70-something,” McBroom said. “All we’re asking is for $20 or $25. I mean, it’s still a great benefit to the employee, and we’re still absorbing a lot of the cost.”

Pct. 4 Commissioner Drew Brossmann disagreed with the increase. Back in June, the Commissioners Court had discussed employee raises and benefits, and the possibility of absorbing the insurance increase this year. No decision was made at that time, however.

“I already went back after that meeting and I told my employees that their insurance is going to be covered this year 100%,” Brossmann said. “That’s what we decided. And now we’re kind of just changing and going back, and I understand the other side. I just feel bad. I already told my employees we were covered, and now we’re changing our mind.”

McBroom moved to increase the employee contribution for dependant coverage by $20. Pct. 3 Commissioner Harvey Berckenhoff seconded the motion. It passed 4-1 with Brossmann voting against it.