Peterson, McLean reluctant to pay employee insurance increases

Hill County employees may be facing increased health insurance costs as the Hill County Commission considers whether to raise county contribution to cover a recent increase in rates.

The Montana Association of Counties informed Hill County recently that health insurance rates for county employees will jump by 6.5 percent, and the county’s insurance committee, in a meeting Wednesday, recommended to the commission that the county cover that increase.

Members of the committee said county employees are facing significant difficulties between their already low wages and inflation, but two members of the commission, Diane McLean and Mark Peterson, seemed resistant to the recommendation.

Commissioner Jake Strissel did not speak during the meeting.

Peterson said the county should maybe not be passing the cost of this rate increase off to taxpayers, and seemed skeptical that the voters would approve any tax increase to cover employee health care.

“You need to understand that we’re looking at a much bigger picture than just the employees,” he said.

Members of the committee impressed upon the commission the state many of them find themselves in.

“I am the highest paid public health official that we have and I don’t make a living wage,” said committee member and Public Health Director Kim Berg, “ ... and now I have no say in a pay cut that I will get because I have to pay more for health insurance. It goes both ways, and I think you’re forgetting that.”

Berg said she understands that Peterson wants to look out for taxpayers and doesn’t want to burden them with more costs during this difficult time, but the commission needs to do the same for their employees.

McLean said the county recently gave employees a cost of living wage increase.

Commission Executive Assistant Sheri Williams said that does not cover how much costs have actually increased.

Committee members also said that the county’s benefit package is one of the reasons that people chose to work there despite the low wages.

“I grew up here, pretty much in this office,” said Nic Mader, another county employee and committee member, “and through all my years I’ve seen a lot of things, and working at the county used to be one of the big four in Havre; work at the county, work at the city, work at the railroad, work for an energy company, and the main reason why the county was big was because of the benefit package that they offered. You’re not going to get rich working at the county. … It doesn’t make sense to me, why we wouldn’t just pay the 6.5 percent.”

Another committee member, Rhonda Syson, said she started in September and she took the job specifically for the health coverage even before getting COVID-19, turning down a higher-wage job.

Hill County Clerk and Recorder Sue Armstrong said driving employees away is not the answer in the private sector, and the public sector is no different in that respect.

Peterson again expressed concern about the possibility of going to the voters for more tax money, but committee members said if they don’t ask the public they’ll never know what their opinion is.

A major subject of contention at the meeting was county employees not meeting with the MACo representatives to find the best plan for them. Committee member Bridget Kallenberger said she thinks that’s largely the result of communication failure rather than a lack of initiative.

She said employees are sent documents suggesting they register online and, because of that, think there is no benefit to consulting with MACo representatives and the county needs to make its expectations more clear.

Peterson encouraged those present to encourage their fellow employees seek the advice of MACo representatives and said the county can set up appointments for all of them.

Armstrong said she doesn’t think there is enough time to do that, but Peterson disagreed.

“Sue, there will be time,” Peterson said.

Armstrong said she’s heard differently from the people at MACo.

Members of the committee also asked if there was time to look at other plans for employees and Peterson told them there wasn’t time. He said the committee was formed to do just that and they should have started earlier if they wanted to shop around.

Members of the committee said MACo only came to them with the rate increase a week ago.

Armstrong said the committee isn’t just about health insurance but insurance in general and they’ve been working hard.

“The committee was also formed for other stuff, and they have suggested other savings that were voted down,” she said.

Committee member Jim Litzinger said he only learned last week that he was even on the committee and it doesn’t make sense to him to that they would have only gotten word of this increase now, weeks before a decision needs to be made.

McLean adjourned the meeting after an hour and 15 minutes and said the committee’s recommendation and comments would be taken under advisement.