Insurance contribution increased

Since county employees will not receive raises next year, the Jay County Council decided to take care of its workers by covering more of employees' monthly health insurance costs.

Facing uncertainty about revenue in 2010 due to impending property tax caps, the council decided earlier this year to freeze wages for employees. But with the cost of the county's health insurance plan increasing by 11.21 percent next year, costs for employees to maintain medical coverage will sharply increase.

County commissioner Milo Miller Jr. asked the council in November if it would consider raising the share of the monthly insurance costs the county pays. This year, the county is paying $450 of the monthly cost for a single employee plan, while the employee was seeing $23.40 deducted for insurance per paycheck.

The total monthly cost, however, is rising to about $552 in 2010. At the same county contribution of $450, the employee's deduction would rise to $51 per pay.

"They're still going backwards," said councilman Mike Leonhard, noting that even if employees received a 3 percent salary increase this year, they would still be behind if the council didn't increase its share.

The council considered bumping its contribution to $500 per month, which would cost the county about an extra $78,000 per year and slightly raise employee deductions to about $26 per pay. Councilman Fred Bailey suggested using the county's rainy day fund to cover the additional expense, since money in that fund is accumulated from excess in departmental budgets at the end of the year.

"Isn't that the function of the rainy day fund?" he asked. "I think that's the appropriate place to take it from. ... They give it to us, so we'll give it right back."

Councilman Gary Theurer suggested the council raise their payment by the same percentage as the insurance costs increased, in this case 11.21 percent. Theurer said the council could use that as a guideline for consideration in the future as well.

The response to the idea was lukewarm, however, due the calculations required and the thought of greatly increasing cost in the future. The council instead decided to increase its share to $500, which is slightly more than the 11.21 percent increase.

After approving the increase, council members were thanked by auditor Nancy Culy and Sheriff Ray Newton, both departmental heads.

"It means a lot to our employees," Culy said.

In other business Wednesday night, the council:

•Approved an appropriation of $6,000 to the deferral fund to purchase a new TV for the courtroom and computers to allow prosecutors to access files remotely, cutting down on paper consumption.

The council also approved an appropriation of $1,428 to deferral, which will be used to sign up for an online program that may help in property theft cases by tracking pawnshops.

The council also approved a $15,000 appropriation to the victim's advocate fund to cover a shortfall while the office waits for reimbursement from the state.

•Approved appropriations to the public defender of $1,038, $83.22, $1010.87 and $1939.87 to pay bills to attorneys outside of the defender's office who are handling cases.

•Approved transfers of $1,090.39, $1810.50, $500, $1174.36, $145, $256.50 and $299.64 in the auditor's budget to purchase four new computer towers in the office.

•Approved a transfer of $1,000 in the surveyor's budget to cover the cost of a data transfer program that was needed when the office upgraded computer systems.

The council also approved a transfer of $2,500 in the same budget for computer upgrades in the surveyor office.

•Approved a transfer of $120 in the veteran affairs budget to cover the cost of a new printer and Windows 7 upgrade.

•Approved a transfer of $32,000 in the commissioners budget to pay for a service agreement with Manatron Inc. for 2010.

The council also approved a transfer of $1,200 in that same budget to purchase copier supplies.

•Approved a transfer of $1,400 in the Jay Superior Court budget to cover computer maintenance on the court's audio recording system.

•Approved a transfer of $39,000 in the Jay Emergency Medical Services budget to cover salary for reserves.

•Approved a transfer of $1,111.90 in the 911 budget to cover compensation time.

The council also approved a transfer of $1402.37 to cover insurance costs.

•Approved a transfer of $500 in the reassessment budget to cover performance pay for the reassessment deputy.

•Approved an appropriation of $6,900 to the retirement center to purchase a van.

•Approved a $2,500 loan to the Emergency Management Agency budget out of the rainy day fund to cover a shortfall while waiting for reimbursement from the state.

•Appointed Pat Gibson and Melinda Bailey to the Property Tax Board of Appeals.

•Re-appointed Richard Whitesell to the Alcoholic Beverage Board.

•Was updated by Miller on several ongoing projects in the county including jail expansion construction, investigating costs to run city water lines to the county retirement home, and energy audits completed on the retirement home and health department.[[In-content Ad]]