Supervisors eliminate deductibles
Sweeping changes that will eliminate health insurance deductibles for county employees could cost taxpayers up to $200,000 annually.
Supervisors voted unanimously to eliminate the $750 health insurance deductible for county employees in an effort to promote wellness.
District 5 Democrat Supervisor Paul Griffin made the motion to eliminate the deductible, saying that some county employees forego medical procedures and visits because of the deductible.
Griffin said in doing so he hopes that “employees go see their doctor” and address “things they’ve been putting off.”
District 1 Supervisor Sheila Jones of Madison asked if employees were putting off medical tests because of the deductible and Griffin said they were.
Griffin of Camden said if a test costs $350 but they haven’t met their deductible it comes out of their pocket so they forego the test altogether.
The change will take effect Jan. 1. Employees will still be required to pay 20 percent of the costs for medical procedures.
In addition to the change in health insurance, supervisors voted 3-2 to move to uniform payroll beginning in May 2021 where every employee is paid bi-weekly.
Board President Gerald Steen of Ridgeland made the motion. saying the current system the county operates under is broken.
Currently, some employees are paid weekly, some bi-weekly, and some monthly.
For monthly payroll, the county estimates the final week of hours in order to process payroll so employees end up being paid for estimated work and not actual work.
Steen, a Republican, made the recommendation after a consultant hired by the county suggested a uniform payroll policy.
Griffin and District 4 Democrat Supervisor Karl M. Banks of Canton voted against the motion, saying they didn’t want to disrupt employees’ lives when they are already used to a certain schedule.
They argued some employees live paycheck to paycheck already and it’s unnecessary.
Both Chancery Clerk Ronny Lott and Tax Collector Kay Pace told supervisors they liked the monthly payroll system better and in doing so asked how doing payroll twice a month could be more efficient than once a month.
Steen was joined by Jones and District 2 Supervisor Trey Baxter of Madison in voting for the change to uniform payroll.