Yorktown eyes budgeting options to cope with insurance rate spike

Rising employee health insurance premiums have Yorktown city officials looking at options as they begin their annual budget planning process, members of the Town Council learned Monday at their regular monthly business meeting.

According to preliminary numbers presented by Texas Health Benefits Pool plan providers, employee costs for the city-provided health insurance plan will increase by as much as $107 per month per person - a full $317 per month for those with family coverage - which, as Mayor Bill Baker pointed out, could place a seri- ous dent in most families' budgets.

"When you look at rates going up by that much, it makes the benefit to our employees practically unaffordable for most families," he said.

In Yorktown specifically, those prices could impact the personal budgets of at least a dozen city workers once they take effect with the city's new fiscal year budget.

Like many towns its size, Baker said Yorktown already has a difficult time attracting qualified workers, especially when those employees can earn much more in larger cities. City benefitsthings like health in- CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 surance coverage and pension plans - are where officials try to make up those differences to stay competitive.

And it's not just Yorktown feeling the pinch of higher health insurance premiums, the mayor told fellow council members.

Rather, most everyone with a health insurance plan of any sort will be facing higher rates in the year ahead, based on what Baker learned at a recent regional conference hosted by the Texas Municipal League.

One option for dealing with those rate increases, discussed by the council Monday, came in the form of a potential one-time bonus for city employees to offset the increased costs.

The bonus option would allow workers to continue receiving their health plan benefits without paying more, but it also keeps the adjustment from becoming an across-the-board salary increase that would become a recurring annual expense for the city's coffers.

That bonus option remains on the table and will be formally considered as the city moves further along in its annual budget process in the coming weeks.

What the council did vote on Monday was accepting the plan renewal option with the state benefits pool provider so officials could lock in rates for the 2026-27 budget year.

Historically, the benefits pool option, which combines Yorktown city workers with those from other cities across Texas, has provided some of the most affordable health insurance options available.

As discussed at the June 29 meeting, however, officials said it may be time to investigate other alternatives moving forward.

In other business A collapsed culvert near the Yorktown Chamber of Commerce office - which opened a rather sizable hole in the sidewalk following recent rainstorms - has city crews working on solutions, none of which will come cheaply, the mayor said.

Officials discussed the problem during the city administrator's report and are moving forward with plans to install a large steel grate over the area temporarily while they work on a permanent solution beneath the street.

Alderman Mike Rippamonti provided an update on ongoing upgrades at the city's wastewater treatment plant.

Although recent rains and state permitting processes have delayed work for several weeks, Rippamonti said he has remained in regular communication with the project engineer and contractor, and plans are in place for significant progress in the coming weeks, dependent on a crucial concrete pour.

Council received an update on the city's annual water consumer report, which received a "good" rating from the state. Notices will be mailed to customers in the coming weeks with utility bills.

The city also heard from several residents during the public comment portion of the meeting, including one speaker addressing recent dog attacks within the city limits (see related story) and two others seeking variances for mobile home installations within the city.