Roanoke Rapids City Manager Paul Sabiston wrote in a memo to council for a meeting today to approve new employee health insurance, “The city will save approximately $127,264 in insurance premiums compared to the present fiscal year’s cost and will net a benefit of $324,210 against the presently proposed budget (for the upcoming fiscal year).”
Sabiston noted in the memo the proposed budget estimated a 10 percent increase in all premiums to forecast the proposed financial plan. “With the competitive bidding process, the city has lowered the proposed number by $324,210.”
After last week’s city council meeting, staff had to find $103,489 to balance the proposed budget after council scrubbed a proposal for a fitness center and monument sales and left in a full time position in planning and development proposed to be cut.
The city planned to pull $200,000 from its fund balance to help balance the proposed $15.3 million financial plan and Sabiston told council today he felt like staff could take the $200,000 to balance the budget. “I think it’s good news.”
Meanwhile council today approved a new health insurance plan with Ed Liverman voting against the measure and Carl Ferebee abstaining because he wanted more information.
“I didn’t want to leave that $63,000 on the table,” Liverman said afterward, explaining that was the difference between 70-30 and 80-20 coverage.
Council opted to go with First Carolina Care and will give its employees 80-20 coverage while eliminating the $17 per month employee contribution that exists in the present premium.
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