Holmes no longer providing life insurance for employees
14 jan 2009
MILLERSBURG -- County employees are no longer covered under life insurance supplied by the county, and many are asking why they were not notified sooner or given the option to pay the premiums.
"We regret having to do it, but we had to start somewhere," said Commissioner Ray Eyler. "Most places don't provide life insurance policies."
The discontinuation of life insurance will save the county $25,000 from the general fund. The policy provided $25,000 in coverage for each employee with a $20,000 benefit and a $5,000 spouse benefit.
The county's projected revenue for 2009 is $9 million. In 2008, the county received more than $9.9 million in revenue. To stay solvent, the county will have to cut 10 percent from the 2008 budget.
"The board volunteered to furnish life insurance to the employees," said Commissioner Joe Miller. "The board is not required to provide any insurance to anybody."
At Monday's commissioners meeting, Miller said there is no law that states the board must provide health insurance either, although that is currently not part of the board's cost-cutting plan.
"I think it was an add-on or a luxury," Miller said.
Commissioner Robert Ault said he had spoken with county employees about the decision.
"One employee talked to me about it because he heard about it, and he said he's more willing to lose life insurance than his (health) insurance," Ault said.
But Clerk of Courts Dorcas Miller said she's heard much different reactions.
"I've had a number of employees, not just from my office but the other offices, ask why this was done and why they were not even given a chance to carry this on themselves," Dorcas Miller said.
Dorcas Miller is writing a letter to the commissioners. She said most employees understand the county's funding problems, but they were never given the option of continuing the policy out-of-pocket.
"As a group together, they felt the premiums would be more affordable," Dorcas Miller said.
Employees also were not provided adequate time to find other coverage, she said.
"We were only notified a day or two before it happened, before the pay period here," Dorcas Miller said. "They were counting on this."
This is not the end. The county will have to make more cuts, Joe Miller said.
"Twenty-five thousand is not a lot from a million dollars (or close to a million) but every $25,000 adds up to a lot," he said.
Source :http://www.the-daily-record.com/news/article/4504120
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