County changes health benefits

 Donley County Commissioners approved changes to employee health benefits last week as the county prepares to begin budget negotiations for fiscal year 2014.

In a called meeting last Wednesday, July 24, the commissioners’ court listed to a proposal from Julie Hulsey, a Blue Cross / Blue Shield representative for the Texas Association of Counties, the insurance pool for Donley County.

County Judge Jack Hall said the court was faced with premium increases of 7.7 percent and a per employee cost of $740 per month. Commissioners instead opted to accept a $200 increase from $1,000 to $1,200 in order to save the county about $7,800 over 12 months.

The per employee premium for the insurance will cost the county $676 per month. That reflects a savings on the health insurance portion of the benefit, but slight increases in the dental and vision benefits means the county will pay $500 per employee more than the current year.

Budget worksheets from county offices have been turned in, and Hall says the court will begin working on the new budget at their regular meeting on August 12. Called meetings are planned for August 13, 14, and 15, but the judge said he doesn’t think commissioners will need that much time.

“I’m not expecting but a day or two of budget work,” he said. “We’re in better shape than last year.”