WOODVILLE &045;&045; It’s d/jˆ vu for Wilkinson County Supervisors, who will again be forced to borrow cash to cover a huge deficit in the county’s self-funded health insurance pool.

On Monday, Chancery Clerk Thomas Tolliver said $486,000 would be needed to cover unpaid health insurance claims for this fiscal year&045;&045;compared to a $456,503 deficit in 2003.

Supervisors voted unanimously to authorize Tolliver to advertise for quotes from potential lenders for a loan of up to $506,000. That amount would include $20,000 to replace air conditioning units at the county’s Health Department and Extension Service buildings.

Tolliver said the county managed other funds without deficits.

&uot;It’s the insurance that’s killing us. We’re going to be forever borrowing if we continue with this type of insurance,&uot; Tolliver said.

Tolliver said most of the high claims were filed by just a few of the county’s 70 employees.

&uot;Once you get patients there with catastrophic illnesses, you know it’s costing the health care (providers). And then, these insurers are not going to quote you if you’ve got past histories, which we have,&uot; Tolliver said.

Supervisors authorized some changes last year in an attempt to bring health insurance costs down, Tolliver said. Since last October, county employees with single-coverage plans have paid monthly premiums of $127.50. Previously, the county paid the entire cost of single-coverage plans.

The employee monthly share for family plans increased from $220.50 to to $425.50, and deductibles for all employees were raised from $250 to $500.

&uot;It was unfortunate, because those employees had not had a raise in three or four years. It amounted to a pay cut for them,&uot; Tolliver said.

In other business, the board:

4Agreed to advertise for bids on one first-responder vehicle and five all-terrain vehicles for use by the county’s law enforcement, fire and other emergency personnel. Tolliver said the purchases will be funded with a grant from the U. S. Department of Homeland Security.

4Authorized engineering consultant Phillip Chaffin to coordinate underwater inspections of the Buffalo River bridges on the Jackson Point and Lake Mary Roads.

4Voted unanimously to equalize the county’s property tax rolls after receiving no inquiries or comments from property owners.