WSD acts on options for rise in insurance costs

By Dave Fidlin

Correspondent

As with many governing agencies, leaders of Town of Waterford Sanitary District No. 1 (WSD) are bracing for higher health insurance premiums in the upcoming year.

At the most recent WSD commissioners’ meeting, held Sept. 10, Board Chairman Dan Dickinson noted that premiums under the state’s benefits plan are expected to rise 13 percent in 2015.

Employees will be expected to shoulder some of the added cost, but WSD’s expenses under that line item also are expected to inch upward. WSD’s 2015 budget allocates $25,000 toward employee health insurance benefits.

“We’re probably in OK shape,” Dickinson commented on the 13-percent rise in rates. “But if we take on additional employees, we will be moving that budget up anywhere from 150 to 200 percent, depending upon what types of elections are made.”

The commission voted, 2-1, in favor of continuing the current practice of WSD funding 88 percent of an employee’s health insurance benefits and the employee paying for the remaining 12 percent of the cost.

Commissioner Ricky McNeiley, the dissenter, said he did not agree with the proposal.

“I don’t see any reason why we should pass this on to our customers, rather than our employees,” McNeiley commented. “This is still cheaper than most (health insurance plans).”

But commissioner Jeff Santaga held a different perspective. He said continuing the 88-12 percent scenario is “the responsible thing to do.”

Dickinson acknowledged that health insurance continues to be an issue many employers are grappling with in the public and private sectors.

“The goal is to offer quality insurance while maintaining costs,” Dickinson noted.

“But everybody’s making changes. Everybody’s struggling with this.”

There is a caveat to the health insurance plan. Single-person coverage is in the 88-12 percent scenario, but employees are expected to pay an additional amount if family coverage is elected.