Orange County NC Website
Commissioner Pelissier asked if the estimated cost includes designing a library that has <br /> this type of flexibility. <br /> Lucinda Munger said yes. <br /> Carrboro Alderman Randee Haven O'Donnell thanked staff for all of the work that has <br /> been done. She said the Commissioners are closer than anyone has been in years, and she <br /> applauded their efforts to engage the community. She said when the Board of County <br /> Commissioners met with the Carrboro Board of Aldermen in 2011, there was a criteria set by <br /> the library standard for calculating square footage based on population. She said, based on <br /> the 2010 census, this meant an 18,000 square foot library, but the projected 2012 census <br /> came out to a square footage of 21,468. She feels it is important to consider the difference for <br /> Carrboro's community use when looking at usable space versus gross square footage, and <br /> she would like to aim for the 20,000 square feet instead of the 18,000. <br /> Commissioner porosin asked what due diligence is remaining. <br /> Jeff Thompson said the only major item remaining is the transaction structure. He said <br /> all of the ground issues have been largely resolved. <br /> Chair Jacobs noted that the Board has not formally picked a site yet. <br /> Commissioner McKee said he wants to make sure the issue of visibility is addressed. <br /> 2. Employee Benefits Updates, Preliminary Renewal Estimates Reqardinq Calendar <br /> Year 2015 Health Insurance, and Anticipated Health Care Reform Components <br /> Cheryl Young introduced the new Human Resources Director, Brenda Bartholomew. <br /> Brenda Bartholomew said she is excited to take this role, and it is very similar to her <br /> previous role in New York, where she served for 15 years. <br /> Cheryl Young reviewed the following background information from the abstract: <br /> Effective January 1, 2014, the County changed the employee health insurance funding from <br /> premium-based (fully-insured) to self-insured. The County pays United Healthcare an <br /> administrative fee, including stop-loss coverage, and pays the claims costs. The County does <br /> not pay a per member premium. The County will save approximately_$667,000 for the 2014 <br /> Plan Year, because some fees related to health care reform are not_imposed on self-insured <br /> plans. <br /> Based on early claims data, consultant Mark III has projected up to a 14.35% increase in <br /> premiums for a renewal of the same benefits beginning January 1, 2015. The projected <br /> general fund budgetary increase for FY 2014-15 is $423,446 (January through June 2015). <br /> Cheryl Young noted that in April, the original projection was a 13 percent increase, and <br /> that number increased in early May, based on additional claims information. She said the <br /> projection is now 14.3 percent, and it will adjust as the claims experience changes. She said <br /> the final and best projections will be presented in September 2014. <br /> Mark Browder from Mark III reviewed historical data from 2013. He said the plan in the <br /> end ran at about a break even position for United Healthcare. He noted that the HSA plan had <br /> lower claims activity than the PPO plan. He said the plan trended up about 13 to 14 percent <br /> over the prior year, but it worked out to be break even by the end. <br /> He said the County transitioned to a self funded plan in 2014, and the funding level <br /> remained the same as it was in 2013. He said the County saved about $600,000 by making <br /> the transition, and the plans remained stable. <br />