Item Coversheet

REPORT TO SHASTA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS


BOARD MEETING DATE:  December  12, 2017
CATEGORY:  Regular - General Government-5.

SUBJECT:

Shasta County’s Contribution to Medical Premiums for Elected Officials.

DEPARTMENT: Support Services-Personnel

Supervisorial District No. :  ALL

DEPARTMENT CONTACT:  Angela Davis, Director of Support Services, (530) 225-5515

STAFF REPORT APPROVED BY:  Angela Davis, Director of Support Services

Vote Required?

Simple Majority Vote
General Fund Impact?

General Fund Impact 

RECOMMENDATION

Take the following actions: (1) Discuss Shasta County’s contribution to medical premiums for Elected Officials during their terms of service; and (2) direct staff accordingly.

SUMMARY

N/A

DISCUSSION

Pursuant to a request from the Board of Supervisors, the following is information concerning the County’s contributions to medical premiums for County Elected Officials, which includes two groups, the Elected Board of Supervisors and the Elected Department Heads.

Section 39.4(A)(1) of the Shasta County Personnel Rules provides as follows:

 

    The County maximum health contribution to the medical, dental, and vision plans for Elected     Department Heads and the Board of Supervisors shall be the same as for employees     represented by the Mid-Management Bargaining Unit (MMBU), including the spouse     accommodation benefit provided to other bargaining units (if an Elected Officer and his/her     spouse or registered domestic partner both work for the County and both are eligible for County     provided health insurance and contributions), unless set otherwise by resolution or ordinance of     the Board.

 

Currently, County Elected Officials are entitled to a County contribution to their medical premiums during their terms of service as follows, based on the plan chosen by the Elected Official: 1) The County contributes 100% of the Employee Only medical premium at the PERSChoice rate; 2) The County contributes 65% of the Employee plus One medical premium at the PERSChoice rate; and 3) The County contributes 65% of the Employee plus family medical premium at the PERSChoice rate. 

 

County managers represented by the Mid-Management Bargaining Unit and the Sheriff’s Administrative Association, and unrepresented County managers also receive these same County contributions to health benefits during their employment.

 

Non-management County employees are entitled to a County contribution to their medical premiums during their employment as follows, based on the plan chosen by the employee: 1)  The County contributes 85% of the Employee Only medical premium at the PERSChoice rate; 2) The County contributes 65% of the Employee plus One medical premium at the PERSChoice rate; and 3) The County contributes 65% of the Employee plus Family medical premium at the PERSChoice rate. 

 

Under the Public Employees’ Medical and Hospital Care Act (PEMHCA), the County’s contribution to medical premiums cannot go below a statutory minimum, which is currently set at $128.00.

 

Several options are available to modify the County contribution to the Elected Official’s medical premium: 1) Modify the Employee Only medical premium contribution from 100% to 85% for both the Elected Board of Supervisors and Elected Department Heads; 2) Modify the Employee Only medical premium contribution from 100% to 85% for the Elected Board of Supervisors only; or 3) Modify the Employee Only medical premium contribution from 100% to 85% for the Elected Department Heads only.

 

The options listed require an Ordinance for modification to the Board of Supervisors’ compensation and a resolution for modification of the Elected Department Heads’ compensation.

 

Modifications to Elected Department Heads’ compensation would be effective for their new terms of office commencing in January, 2019.

 

Modifications to the Board of Supervisors’ compensation would also be effective for their new terms of office commencing in January, 2019.  Any changes to the Board of Supervisors’ compensation designed to be effective in their current term of office would require a unanimous vote of the Board of Supervisors.


ALTERNATIVES

The Board may direct staff to research this matter further and present additional information to the Board or may choose to direct staff to present a specific option to the Board at a future date.


OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT

County Counsel and the County Executive Officer has reviewed this recommendation.


FINANCING

There is very minimal cost savings with the options listed.

 

cc:    Larry Lees, County Executive Officer

         Brian Muir, Auditor-Controller           

         Debbie Edwards, Accountant Auditor III-Conf           

         Shelley Forbes, Assistant Director of Support Services           

         Kari Hallstrom, Agency Staff Services Analyst II-Conf           

         Melissa Merritt, Agency Staff Services Analyst II-Conf           

         Melissa Mansfield, Personnel Assistant-Conf           

         Linda Mekelburg, Personnel Assistant-Conf