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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: October 5, 2010 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. ~_ <br />SUBJECT: 2011 Employee Benefits Recommendations <br />DEPARTMENT: Human Resources PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />1. Impact of Affordable Care Act <br />2. Health Insurance Overview <br />3. NCACC Interlocal Agreement <br />4. Dental Insurance Overview <br />5. Flexible Spending Account Overview <br />6. Supplemental Benefits Overview <br />7. Overview of Paid Leave Accruals <br />8. Proposed Amendment to Article IV, <br />Section 5.0 and Repeal of Article IV <br />Sections 10.0 and 23.0 of the Orange <br />County Personnel Ordinance <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Michael McGinnis, Human Resources <br />Director, 245-2552 <br />Diane Shepherd, Benefits Manager, <br />245-2558 <br />Clarence Grier, Financial Services <br />Director, 245-2453 <br />Annette Moore, Staff Attorney, 245-2317 <br />PURPOSE: To provide the Board with information on employee benefits and leave and present <br />the County Manager's recommendations for Employee Benefits for the 2011 Calendar Year. <br />BACKGROUND: The County provides permanent employees with an excellent comprehensive <br />benefit plan which includes health, dental, life insurance, employee assistance, flexible <br />compensation, supplemental retirement and paid leave. <br />For the past two years economic stresses have significantly challenged Orange County's ability <br />to continue to maintain the level of benefits expected by County employees. In response to <br />these challenges, the County implemented a number of personnel services cost saving <br />reduction programs, including suspension of the County 401(k) contribution to general <br />employees, no funding for salary increases (Merit or In-Range), allowance of voluntary <br />furloughs, institution of a six-month hiring freeze and where possible, and the elimination of <br />many vacant positions. Through these cost saving programs, and by budgetary cuts across the <br />organization, the County has been able to retain permanent employees. However, overall <br />staffing levels have decreased through the elimination of vacant positions and retirement. As <br />the number of positions and operational budgets within the County has decreased, the demand <br />for County services continues to increase and it has important to find ways to continue to <br />demonstrate the County's commitment to employees without increasing costs. <br />Employees have shown their willingness to engage in healthy activities to keep health insurance <br />benefits at current levels and to minimize costs such as: eighty-five percent of employees <br />completed the Health Assessment between October 2009 and March 2010, employees <br />