Print this story |
E-mail story |
This story has 21 comments Add your own |
iPod friendly | Bookmark this
What is this?
Aldermen consider raising insurance costs for employees
Published Friday, July 10, 2009
NATCHEZ — The board of aldermen has made a decision to increase health insurance for city employees.
The board discussed the increases during a work session Thursday, and no official votes can be cast during a work session.
The health plan changes the aldermen plan to implement include:
- Raising the cost of hospitalization from $1,000 to $1,500, saving the city $342,000 annually.
- Increasing physician co-pay from $25 to $30, saving the city $32,000 a year.
- Raising generic pharmaceutical co-pays from $10 to $15, saving the city $32,000 annually
- Raising the co-pay on name-brand medication from $25 to $30, saving $6,180 a year.
The increases would save an estimated $398,980 a year.
“That’s where we can start taking little bites off at a time,” Mayor Jake Middleton said.
The aldermen will have to vote on the increases during their 6 p.m. meeting July 28.
Middleton’s prior suggestion of raising city employee monthly payments on insurance to $25 — right now they pay nothing — and saving the city $81,000 a year was not agreed upon.
“I can’t raise their deductibles and get them to pay $25,” Alderman Mark Fortenbery said.
Alderman James “Ricky” Gray said he can’t justify asking employees who make between $15,000 and $16,000 a year to pay that much on insurance.
Gray was uneasy with the health insurance increases discussed and agreed upon during the work session and said he would check on insurance co-pays with other municipalities Natchez’s size.
If the board votes for the increase, new prices could take effect immediately.
Other ideas to manage the budget included reducing travel and collecting fines.
Fortenbery said many certification classes that bring about so much travel can actually be taken online, effectively reducing by leaps and bounds departmental travel.
Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis said she’d like to see all travel erased from departments and a special fund created in which all city employees would have to apply for funds and be approved by the board of aldermen.
Gray said all travel should be approved anyway, and while it is approved by the board on the docket, it’s after the fact.
City Clerk Donnie Holloway agreed that travel can be whittled down.
“It needs to be nipped in the bud big time,” Holloway said.
Additionally, the board discussed uncollected municipal fines.
Holloway said there are thousands of dollars in unpaid fines that could be collected.
“We just can’t afford not to pursue that,” Dillard said.
The board agrees their ultimate goal in this administration is to stop borrowing money each year to balance the budget and pay the bills.
Comments
Posted by natashakubelikov (anonymous) on July 10, 2009 at 12:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why can,t they collect fines? I always had to pay every single one of mine,i guess the ones that suck off the taxpayers,don,t and won,t work, and don,t pay taxes don,t have to pay fines either,why else couldn,t a fine be collected unless somebody is doing somebody favors??
Posted by juju (anonymous) on July 10, 2009 at 1:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with natachakubelikov, do the right thing, collect the fines!
Posted by duck (anonymous) on July 10, 2009 at 6:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
jake is lying about employees not having to pay for insurancf.they take money out of there checks for it.
Posted by jlmorris (anonymous) on July 10, 2009 at 7:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Someone is number challenged. The savings add up to $412,180.
If you believe the numbers, then each city employee averages almost 2 visits to the doctor per month. In addition, each city employee averages about 2.35 prescriptions per month.
Posted by bellesouth (anonymous) on July 10, 2009 at 8:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is why we need a public option people. Tell your congresscritters.
Posted by wifetoone (anonymous) on July 10, 2009 at 8:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
City employees do pay their insurance, And if they raise it any higher we won't be able to go to the Dr. We can't afford the co-pays we pay now. Our deductible is $2,500 per person, per year. You have to be really sick to meet that, go into the hospital a couple times a year to come anywhere close to it. 85% to 95% of Fire Dept personel have to have a second job just to make ends meet. Its a shame that can't find these cuts somewhere else, like in their own back pockets. It's a pity.
Posted by treeclimber (anonymous) on July 10, 2009 at 8:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Take a pay cut, Mayor and BOA. Start collecting overdue fines. There are always a building full of people in City Court on Mondays and Fridays and I'm sure the majority are getting fines. City vehicles need to be parked at night and officials drive their own vehicles home. ND, is it possible to print a list of city-owned cars that are used by elected officials? Make, model, etc.?
Posted by mrmojorisin (anonymous) on July 10, 2009 at 9:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Leave the cost of the insurance alone for the city employees making $12-$16 thousand dollar a year. These workers can't afford to pay attention, much less pay higher insurance costs. For employees making $18-$24 thousand, they can afford the $25 a month cost, and anyone making more than $24,000 can afford to pay the cost of Blue Cross.
However, DO raise the cost of the co-pays on everyone. Make them as high as $50 per doctor visit. Maybe this will cut down the congestion in the doctor's waiting rooms with people going to the doctor for every little thing from a splinter in their finger to a cold.
I know to some of you hard line right wingers out their that sounds like socialism, but so does "group" health plan, and managed health care. I've always found that the die-hard, conservative, pseudo-christian, right-wing rich guys concerns lie not with the fact that poor people get something for free, but more, "WHY do I have to pay for mine?" The answer is so simple if you'd quit whining, and thank the man upstairs for your good fortune...because you are lucky enough to have had the opportunities afforded to you to get a good education, get a good job, and can afford to pay for yours, and perhaps, maybe kick in a bit more for the less fortunate. That is what makes Americans a little bit better than the rest of the world, right? Our charitable nature.
---mojo
Ps---Why is it we are so proud tospend billion upon billions of dollars, and to go and die on foreign soil to help the poor people in some oppressed nation 10,000 miles away, but so want to help our less fortunate brothers and sisters here at home? I mean, the Iraqui people should have over-thrown Saddam if they really minded the tyranny. We kicked out the British when we'd had enough, right? Why is it we feel the need to protect and support the weak, the poor, the less-fortunate people in other nations all over the world, but only complain about those same people here among us? Just imagine how much we could have done with all the money Bush wasted on his war. What about the lives sacrificed? For what end?
Posted by Omega (anonymous) on July 10, 2009 at 9:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't believe those numbers are right. I think city workers have a $2500.00 deductible now. ALDERMEN TAKE A $10,000.00/YR pay cut before you start taking from ANYONE else.
Posted by NtzMom55 (anonymous) on July 10, 2009 at 9:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Gray was uneasy with the health insurance increases discussed and agreed upon during the work session and said he would check on insurance co-pays with other municipalities Natchez’s size." Good, Mr. Gray. But while you're at it, why don't you also check what the BOA pay is for municipalities the size of Natchez. I'm sure you would notice that the Natchez BOA could and SHOULD take a pay cut before insurance is increased on city employees who earn much less for their full-time employment than the BOA does for their part-time duties.
Posted by momof1 (anonymous) on July 10, 2009 at 10:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Unfortunately city employees are going to have to join the ranks of the rest of us. I have insurance but with a $2500 deductible and a $100 Rx deductible I sure hope I never have anything more than a cold. I was once told that health insurance was merely a means of avoiding complete financial disaster in the event of a major health condition and now I'm beginning to believe it.
Posted by jlmorris (anonymous) on July 10, 2009 at 11:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Let's see city employees might take a $400,000 hit for health insurance.
A $16,400 hit to the salaries for the mayor, aldermen, city clerk and city attorney would amount to about $150,000 plus fringe benefits.
Stopping city employees from using vehicles for personal use would save $100,000 or more.
Shutting down the Convention Center would save $240,000 per year.
Firing half the employees for public works and contracting out for like kind services probably would save $300,000 per year.
And if the alderman, mayor and city clerk really looked, they probably could cut enough to save the taxpayers at least $1,000,000 a year.
One would hope that they are looking for at least another $500,000 to $1,500,000. If not they are not taking their fiscal responsibility seriously.
Well, it has been obvious the mayor, aldermen and city clerk are not serious about fiscal responsibility.
JMHO
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on July 10, 2009 at 11:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Just a sign of the times! I think the insurance companies are laughing at us all! They are laughing at the employer and the employee, while shaking down all of us and making a pretty good racket for themselves, same with banks, except for now, the banks are caught up in their own greed to give out monies to those who they "thought" were "good" all the while ignoring the honest man. Insurance's fall is just a matter of time away. Rediculous co-pays and deductibles, where's the relief? I am against going to the doctor for any little reason, so people like me, we get destroyed with the deductibles. I almost NEVER meet mine, which means I pay out of pocket until I do! Many people just say what the hell and don't even get insurance which also can cause those WHO DO get insurance, rates to rise!
Posted by hawk1 (anonymous) on July 10, 2009 at 2:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
alderman west arrested??? comments disabled let me guess why.
Posted by momof1 (anonymous) on July 10, 2009 at 3:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree Teach, but I'm afraid that governement run health care isn't the answer. Look at the mess Seniors are in that are on Social Security. Most of them get stuck in the "donut hole" and it's worse on them than it is for us because they are on fixed incomes with outrageous prescription drug bills.
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on July 10, 2009 at 3:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
they pay NOTHING!!! for insurance? unacceptable.....now I know why I hear people say they want a city job for the benefits and also have their own business on the side, or is it the other way around, have their own business and work for the city on the side? This has got to stop.
increase to $25 to pay for health insurance? that is PEANUTS, I can't believe it!! And perscriptions are ten times what the city employees have to pay, NOT FAIR!!!!!
compared to what any privately employed person pays for health insurance, and usually these days along with a high deductible, so really we are all paying insurance and paying our health costs out of pocket, city employees are getting a free ride......
raise it to $100 at least, I pay $300/person each month with a $5000/yr deductible..... insurance is such a scam and a racket in my mind, I hate the insurance business ( praise the Lord I am healthy, if I suddenly developed cancer or something I would be singing a different tune of course)...... Grey is such a knucklehead.. his constituents should be ashamed for voting him in.....If he's worried about city employees not making enough salary/wages he should just remember it is their CHOICE to be a city employee, they could be out in the REAL WORLD with a REAL JOB taking a risk in a private business or career and having to foot some REAL expenses...That's what's wrong with the economy right now, too many gov't jobs, gov't is trying to do TOO MUCH..... Sometimes Less is More especially with gov't control of business other than police, fire, military, roads - the basic essentials is all we need gov't to do in order to SERVUS US THE PEOPLE, and not the other way around, I do not live my life to serve any government.
everyone must pull their weight and pay a fair share of the costs....
and the aldermen and mayor must get their AXES out and CUT some big stuff OUT........bid out the grass cutting as discussed before and sell off all that grass cutting equip.....
go to a three day work week.... Serve as a privilege and honor, all city political workers should be successful independent business people and forfeit any salary from the city........
oh, by the way, slightly different topic
I've been talking to commercial developers trying to come into Natchez to do business, their first comment is - PROPERTY TAXES ARE TOO HIGH!!!!!!!!
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on July 10, 2009 at 3:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
WHO should then oversee these entities who have done NOTHING, absolutely NOTHING but fraud and shake down the working taxpayer? Who? I am sick of this government boogey man rhetoric as well as these people who have driven these programs, given the illusion to help us, when they do NOTHING more than TAKE from us. Insurance, banks, etc., all are private industries who's practices have done nothing but nickle and dime the poor working person out of what little they do have. I have seen people without insurance, rack up doctor's bills then walk off into the sunset, same with Medicaid folk. As far as pharmaceuticals, I'm not even going there, I don't have enough time to discuss their evils.
Posted by Omega (anonymous) on July 11, 2009 at 1:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
So many misinformed people here… City employees do pay a little for their insurance. At one time it was free to the employee and it cost extra for family coverage. Over the years the deduction has go to $2500 per person and the cost for family coverage got so high some officers had to take their wife and kids off. The kids got on some other free program because the officers are paid so little and the wife had to hope she stayed well. As for upping the co-pay… there are officers with old sports injuries, on the job injuries etc. that requires them to go to a doctor every month. Doctors will not put refills on pain meds no matter how weak they are. The officers are not much above the poverty line and some one suggested those that have to go each month for themselves or if a family member has to go that often, they loose another $600.00/yr for co-pay. Right now the co-pay is $15 for a doctor and $25 for a real doctor. Rx card has a $100/yr deductible also. Some meds are not covered. If an officer or family member wants to stop smoking and get the new drug for that cost $121/ month. The simple fact is NPD has only had a 9% pay raise in the past 12 or 13 years. This, of course, doesn’t come close to staying up with inflation. Since min. wage has gone up and city employees did get a raise they, in effect, got a pay cut. City employees have never been paid good but they had good benefits. Over the last 20 years the BOA have been lining their pockets and giving themselves raises and have been chopping away at the city employees benefits. Raises have been few and far between also. If you have been keeping up you will see that the BOA keep the NFD to keep insurance rates down and they treat NPD as a necessary nuisance. Public Works falls somewhere in between. There should be a way to get the BOA pay put on the ballot so we can cut their illegal pay raise.
Posted by Omega (anonymous) on July 11, 2009 at 1:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sorry this line should read:
Since min. wage has gone up and city employees did NOT get a raise they, in effect, got a pay cut.
Posted by bigdaddy101 (anonymous) on July 11, 2009 at 4:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
They're lucky cause a lot of people in Natchez has their insurance deductables to go way up more than that. Perhaps they could pay for their premiums every month like some of us?
Posted by lowrider (anonymous) on July 11, 2009 at 9:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
alderman, if you are truely concerned, step up to the plate and take a paycut yourselves.
Post a comment (Terms of Use Policy)
(Requires free registration.)