Despite rapidly escalating costs, members of the Pulaski County Library District board decided Wednesday night that they have little choice but pay a $117 per month increase in the rates for insurance for employees.
That rate hike will bring the total cost per employee up to $636 per month for seven employees and three spouses. The library board voted years ago to pay 100 percent of the insurance premium for employees and spouses who elect the coverage, but not the additional cost for the family plan to cover children.
“That’s awfully generous,” said board member John David Kinsley, who noted that at $75,000 per year, the new insurance cost will total nearly 15 percent of the library district’s budget.
Head Librarian Osa Kays said she realizes the expenses are significant.
“A few years ago to keep employees, we voted to pay the insurance for the employees to cut down on the turnover,” Kays said. “I just mentioned it to one employee and said we might want to drop down, and they were upset.”
Board member Chris Zweerink said she understands the need for insurance coverage but worried what will happen as costs continue to escalate.
“You keep raising your deductibles to keep your premiums down, and then you get to the point that you have high premiums and it doesn’t pay for anything anyway; it’s just awful,” Zweerink said.
Board members agreed that there’s probably no point in seeking additional bids on the insurance beyond Mercy Medical, which has provided the library board’s insurance since 1995.
“Everybody is always going to be high,” Kinsley said. “I don’t want to mess with anyone’s insurance.”
Kays agreed.
“I really hate to go out and change insurance because they say it may be great insurance, but you don’t know until you have to use it, and then you may find out you don’t have anything,” Kays said. “We know with this insurance, we’ve got good insurance.”
Kinsley, a retired Waynesville teacher, said he’s been a victim of cheap insurance himself when he made the mistake of leaving the school district’s insurance plan.
“I remember when I first retired from the school, the insurance went up so I dropped it and went out and got another insurance because it was cheaper, but then I went to the hospital and had to pay $20,000 because there were so many things that they wouldn’t cover,” Kinsley said. “Back then they were trying to get the retirees off the insurance because they were eating up so much money.”
Kays said providing good insurance is critical to keeping good employees.
“People think a $5,000 deductible is high, but what’s the alternative? Paying $20,000 or $50,000 or $100,000 out of your pocket?” Kays asked. “Personally, I think every year you don’t use your insurance, they should give you something back.”
Zweerink said the insurance rate hike will be easier to pay since the Crocker library loan was just recently paid off. Board member Jeff Mitchell asked when the insurance bids must be approved, and when Kays said they’re due in September, board members agreed to sign the agreement and move ahead for another year with the same company.
Board members also discussed several alternative insurance companies and said many of the local doctors in Pulaski County will not accept the alternative insurance options.
In other business, Kays reported that the Crocker library had 2,335 books checked out in July, 11 new cards issued, and 1,346 patrons visit. Waynesville had 6,872 books checked out, 127 new cards and 4,467 patrons; Richland had 5,240 books checked out, 19 new cards and 2,614 patrons.
“The month of July was very good,” Mitchell said. “I guess when it’s hot, people like to sit home and read a book.”
Crocker, Mo. —
