First responder crashes cost county taxpayers millions in worker comp claims
One solution proposed as an incentive to make it stop -- a barbecue dinner for safe drivers.
"We've got to get everybody on the same mindset and the same track -- that you can't help somebody unless you get to the scene," said Councilman
"You can't help that officer unless that backup officer gets to them, you can't help those people inside that house unless the fire engine gets there."
County Councilman
"They want to be paid," Howard said.
The climbing costs of worker comp was revealed to councilmen at the
Since July of 2015, nearly 50 motor vehicle accidents were reported from the county police, fire, sheriff and EMS, according to the breakdown provided to councilmen.
"A large percentage is due to training,"
"And another large percentage is due to vehicle incidents that range from zero dollars to
"There are a lot of back-up accidents in law enforcement," Hill said.
Because of the high number of worker compensation claims over a three-year period, insurance premiums are expected to rise nearly
"Because we had bad experiences in 2015, they are penalizing us for our prior experience," said
Since 2013, the total amount in worker compensation claims paid from all divisions, including public safety, administration, the airport and infrastructure and regulation, is
The council and key staffers will hold a three-day budget retreat at the
"I really think we have to take a look at this because it's eating up an extremely large part of our costs," Allen said. "We're constantly being asked on council that our public safety (employees) needs more pay. Honestly, you can't pay our public safety enough to do the job that needs to be done, we understand that.
"But if we can look at some of these areas ... where we can change the mindset and cut the cost, maybe in the future we can convert some of that loss to some pay for our public safety folks."
___
(c)2017 The Sun News (Myrtle Beach, S.C.)
Visit The Sun News (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) at www.thesunnews.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Shasta County could lose 900 jobs if Medi-Cal changed
Idaho Senate votes against Medicaid expansion amendment
Advisor News
Annuity News
Health/Employee Benefits News
Life Insurance News