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1 <br /> Orange County <br /> Board of Commissioners <br /> Action Agenda Item Abstract <br /> Meeting Date: November 3, 1999 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. $-1 <br /> Subject: Benefits for County Commissioners <br /> Department: Personnel Public Hearing: Yes No X <br /> Budget Amendment <br /> Needed: Yes No X <br /> Attachment(s): Information Contact: <br /> Elaine Holmes, Personnel Director <br /> Draft Policy— County Contribution Extension 2550 <br /> For Commissioners' Benefits Telephone Number: <br /> Hillsborough 732-8181 <br /> Chapel Hill 968-4501 <br /> Durham 688-7331 <br /> Mebane 227-2031 <br /> Purpose: To consider adopting a policy effective July 1, 2000 providing for the County to <br /> make the same contribution for benefits for which County Commissioners are eligible that it <br /> makes for permanent County employees receiving those same benefits. <br /> Background: Under State law, the Board of Commissioners fixes the compensation of its <br /> members. It may do so annually by inclusion of the amount of compensation in the annual <br /> Budget Ordinance and by adoption of the Ordinance. The purpose of the attached draft <br /> policy is to direct how the Budget Ordinance is to be prepared each year. <br /> Specifically, the draft policy would change Commissioners' compensation to add the same <br /> County contribution amount for health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance and <br /> supplemental retirement that is provided for permanent County employees, provided the <br /> Commissioners are eligible for this coverage under the insurance contracts and other <br /> contracts affecting these benefits. Outlined below for each involved benefit is the present <br /> policy and the impact of the draft policy change. <br /> 1. Health Insurance <br /> Presently Commissioners may participate in Orange County's health insurance <br /> (Healthsource Plan only) by paying the full cost of coverage (both the employee cost <br /> and the County contribution amount). <br /> Under the draft policy, the County would provide the same contribution for <br /> Commissioners' health insurance that it provides for permanent employees. The North <br /> Carolina Association of County Commissioners' health insurance trust advises that <br /> Commissioners would become eligible to participate in the Blue Cross plans (Preferred <br /> Provider Plan or Personal Care Plan) if the County makes such a contribution. This <br />