Discussion and possible action to accept the OSU Local County Training Calculation Formula for the 2026/2027 annual county office salary compensation. • Premium Increases: Health Choice rates (High, Basic, and High Deductible plans) will increase by nearly 20% (approx. 19%), exceeding the anticipated budget. • HMO Provider Changes: Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) HMO has been dropped. Community Care will be the only available HMO option, though its coverage and services in the local area require further review. • Cost-Mitigation Strategies: To offset rising premium costs for employees, the benefits committee is exploring: • Eliminating the Health Choice High plan and transitioning to the Basic plan (which shares the same PPO network and services but alters the cost-sharing ratio). • Utilizing existing budgeted benefit funds to implement a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) or restructuring Flexible Spending Account (FSA) contributions. • Adjusting deductible levels. • Broker of Record Selection: Hub International (the current workers' compensation broker) has presented alternative BCBS rates and will meet with the remaining Commissioners next week. A formal step to designate Hub International as the official Broker of Record for health benefits is required to allow them to negotiate better rates and discounts. • Plan Alignment: Management is exploring shifting the plan's effective date from January 1 to July 1 to align with the fiscal budget cycle. This timeline would provide definitive rate data by March, preventing unexpected year-end rate shocks. • Next Steps: A special Employee Benefits Committee meeting is scheduled for tomorrow morning to review these items in detail.

Committee

Budget Board

Requested by

County Clerk

Introduced

September 8, 2026

On agenda

September 21, 2026

Where it was heard

Budget Board Sep 21, 2026 adopted Pass

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