Sweetwater Authority board members approve health insurance coverage for their own dependents

San Diego Union-Tribune (CA)

Jan. 15--Sweetwater Authority board members will soon be able to add dependents to their health insurance plans -- an option that could cost the water agency in South County as much as $146,000 a year.

The board voted 6-1 on Jan. 9 to allow members to add dependents to their insurance plans at the same small cost employees pay. Member Josie Calderon-Scott dissented.

The maximum estimated cost of additional insurance coverage assumes all seven board members sign up for family plans.

While the cost represents a small portion of the water agency's expenses, ratepayers have scrutinized the board's fiscal decisions in the past year.

In late August, as the board considered rate increases it ultimately approved, some ratepayers who objected condemned the average salary plus benefits of the district's 100-plus employees: $176,000.

"We're constantly criticized about salaries ... but don't hesitate to give ourselves benefits," Calderon-Scott said before she cast the dissenting vote last week.

Calderon-Scott, who was the only member to comment on the matter, noted members don't work full time -- "not even part time," she said.

Most members convene twice a month for regular board meetings. Members appointed to committees attend one or two other meetings a month.

The board gave itself the option to enroll in a medical insurance plan last January under a state law that allows coverage for members -- and dependents -- under the same terms and conditions available to employees. Former members Terry Thomas and Ron Morrison, then-National City mayor, objected.

Almost a year later, during a meeting in late December, member Steve Castaneda asked the general manager, Tish Berge, to look into options available to offer medical insurance to members' dependents.

According to a report in response to the request, the monthly cost of coverage for a spouse or partner is $648 for Kaiser and $1,175 for Aetna. Members will be required to pay $48 a month to include a spouse or partner in a Kaiser plan or $58 under an Aetna plan.

According to the water agency's report, the monthly cost of a family plan is $1,186 for Kaiser and $1,738 for Aetna. Members will be required to pay $65 for a family plan with Kaiser and $76 for Aetna.

Both providers will allow a 30-day special open-enrollment period until Feb. 8 for board members to add dependents. Only members who already are enrolled in the water district's health insurance program are eligible to add dependents to their plans during the month-long period.

Members not enrolled in a medical plan must wait until the next regular open-enrollment period, which begins in August. Two members are enrolled in a plan: Calderon-Scott and Jose Cerda.

The Sweetwater Authority, which provides water to customers in western Chula Vista, Bonita and National City, will join other water agencies in the region that offer medical insurance to board members and their families, including the Helix, Otay and Padre Damn Municipal water districts.

Last week's Sweetwater Authority meeting was the first for National City Mayor Alejandra Sotelo-Solis and Councilman Jerry Cano, who were sworn in to serve four-year terms on the water agency's board. The pair was appointed by Sotelo-Solis, who was sworn in as mayor in December. Residents in Bonita and western Chula Vista elect the five other members.

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