Insurance rates for Cloverdale employees to rise

CLOVERDALE -- Once again Tuesday night, the Cloverdale Town Council addressed the issue of employee insurance, which has lingered over the council for some months.

After a month of putting together numbers and trying to find a better option, Clerk-Treasurer Cheryl Galloway presented the board with nine different options to choose from.

"I went through the insurance again, and I brought it down just a little bit," Galloway said. "I'm not sure if it will help the employees that much."

At a previous meeting the town council had discussed an option, in which it would raise insurance for employees with families to nearly $1,100 a month.

Town Marshal Jon Chadd had argued against the increase as two of the three employees to be affected by such an increase are on the police department.

The new plan the council passed Tuesday evening has the town paying $108,915.09. However, the town has only budgeted $85,000 for insurance, but it plans on using some of the extra money it would typically pay for the jetter truck, as it is almost paid off, to help with the extra $23,915.

The cost for employees with family insurance will go up to $830.52 per month, which was previously $215.67. The new employee and spouse rate will be $856.58 per month, an increase from the $128.55 per month an employee and spouse used to pay.

"It helps out the employees a little bit and it doesn't hurt the town," Galloway said. "This plan is the best I could find for the town and the employees."

The new insurance is an HSA and will have a $3,500 deductible.

Several audience members commented on the high cost of the insurance. However, it was noted that the town is currently unable to look at other policies because of being under a three-year contract with the IACT insurance program for another year.