Following a presentation from Mack Major and Higgins Insurance, Christian County Fiscal Court and its magistrates accepted his advice for their health insurance renewal going into the 2025-26 fiscal year.
Major said it had been impressive not having to increase employee contributions for more than a decade.
However, that “has to change” in this insurance climate — part of five recommendations he offered to the group.
An addition coming from Higgins Insurance, he said, is that health reimbursement arrangement.
Major noted that his findings in the recent health insurance marketplace were “tough over the last nine months,” with claims costs up 27%.
He called that a “tough pill to swallow,” but urged that Christian County Fiscal Court’s consistent conservative funding approach has helped build reserves for these issues.
A couple of things, he added, drove up these recent claim costs:
+ There were 16 “high claimants” at $25,000 or more in the last year;
+ And recent pharmacy spending is up 46%.
Major noted that information meetings and bulletins will soon be offered to county employees.
In other fiscal court news:
— Diane Croney-Turney noted that Take Kids Fishing Day is from 9 AM until noon May 24 at Jeffers Bend Environmental Center. It’s $2 per child and adult, while military and first responders get in free. Aside from angling, she added that water slides, obstacle courses and other modes of entertainment will be available. Students will receive T-shirts, and lunch is provided by Atmos Energy.
The event, she added, still needs volunteers…volunteers like the property just had after recent flooding. Croney-Turner thanked Jailer Adam Smith and his trustees, who recently put some efforts into a cleanup there.
— Judge-Executive Jerry Gilliam confirmed that the sale on the Commerce Park II spec building has “closed and gone through,” having recently been notified by the Industrial Foundation.
— And magistrates unanimously approved the first reading of the 2025-26 budget.
