Insurance

Insurance

still an issue

By SHARON KILPATRICK

Rappahannock News Staff Writer

At the end of the Board of Supervisors’ meeting Monday, several county employees asked the supervisors not to cut their health insurance to $1,300 in the new budget year.

Speaking for the group, Sheriff John Henry Woodward told the board that the cut would mean the county would be paying $20.49 less per month per employee. If the premiums increase by 26 percent as they have been told to expect, each employee will have to pay out an additional $51.96 per month, Sheriff Woodward said.

“Out of 17 of us in my department, myself aruLtjJjo,. others are the only ones who will get a raise in Julj! For the rest the raise will be taken up by insurance,” fie said. “My department is funded 100 percent by the state. Health insurance is the only thing out of county funds except clothing,” he said.

“There is not a county that surrounds us that does not pay 100 percent. Fauquier pays 100 percent, plus it has a dental plan and they are paying 100 percent of retirement ... You should reconsider it, and at least pay what you paid last year. Instead of going backwards, you j need to go forwards. Every other jurisdiction is adding a few more fringe benefits each year. I can’t compete with other jurisdictions,” he concluded.

Peggy Ralph, the deputy to county and circuit court clerk Diane Bruce, added, “We fully realize the problems you have. We don’t want you to do anything to hurt the county, but when you are making up a list of priorities, the employees want to be on that list.”

Commissioner of Revenue Beverly Atkins said she understood that in the following year the state would be picking up the insurance cost. “It might not be as great a problem next year,” she said.

Treasurer Frances Foster said the state would not be picking up the cost, but the employees would be eligible for a state plan which would probably be less expensive.