Orange County NC Website
1 <br />2 <br />3 <br />4 <br />5 <br />6 <br />7 <br />8 <br />9 <br />10 <br />11 <br />12 <br />13 <br />14 <br />15 <br />16 <br />17 <br />18 <br />19 <br />20 <br />21 <br />22 <br />23 <br />24 <br />25 <br />26 <br />27 <br />28 <br />29 <br />30 <br />31 <br />32 <br />33 <br />34 <br />35 <br />36 <br />37 <br />38 <br />39 <br />40 <br />41 <br />42 <br />43 <br />44 <br />45 <br />46 <br />47 <br />48 <br />49 <br />0 <br />Laura Blackmon asked for feedback from the Board on these various options and she <br />said that there need to be changes in the health care costs of employees and retirees. <br />Commissioner Foushee said that she would like to consider benefits for people that <br />worked 20, 25, or 30 years instead of at 10 years. <br />Commissioner Carey said that he has a hard time with re- trenching on retirement and he <br />would like to look at other ways to save money. <br />Laura Blackmon said that there are changes that would be made for current employees <br />and changes that would be made for new employees. <br />Commissioner Foushee agreed that any changes should apply to new employees. She <br />thinks that for any information that comes back, the Board should know how it is affected by <br />GASB 34, because there are financial implications. <br />Commissioner Gordon agreed with not retrenching for existing employees and retirees. <br />She would like to keep the benefits for the current employees as much as possible. She would <br />not want to increase the distinction between the two health care plans any more than they are <br />now, but she wants to see how this affects our employees. <br />Mike McGinnis said that the health care needs of the employees are so different, yet the <br />County pays the same for them all. He said that he is not looking at decreasing the value, but <br />increasing the options available. <br />Commissioner Nelson said that it is hard to give feedback because he needs more <br />information from staff. He said that last year the Board discussed the general issue of the 401 k. <br />He asked staff to expound on this. Diane Shepherd said that the County contributes $715 to the <br />fund per year for full -time employees. Most other counties pay 5% of salary to 401 k. Paying a <br />percentage of salary to 401 k would help with employee retention. This has been a complaint of <br />exiting employees. <br />Laura Blackmon said that there are options and Commissioner Nelson said that he <br />would like to know more about the options. <br />Chair Jacobs said that his reaction to all of this is that this is not in context of the pay <br />plan and the full range of benefits. He thinks that Orange County's health plan may be one of <br />the greatest attractions to work for Orange County, so before he feels comfortable pulling things <br />or choosing other things, he wants to put it in the overall context of the total benefits plan. He <br />would also like to see the $4.1 million figure in the list of budget drivers. <br />Commissioner Carey and Commissioner Gordon agreed about this not being in context. <br />Commissioner Gordon pointed out that Orange County also has two personal leave days <br />per year that employees can take anytime they want. <br />Commissioner Nelson said that the last presentation that was given to the Board was <br />given verbally and he did not retain it. These are complicated issues, and when this comes <br />back, he would like the narrative to be woven together. <br />Mike McGinnis said that any changes in the health plan would not take effect until <br />January. <br />Commissioner Gordon asked that this information about any changes be in written form <br />and ahead of time in agenda packages. <br />Chair Jacobs made reference to the wellness program and said that there are at least <br />two Commissioners that want it. Laura Blackmon said that the staff will bring a program back, <br />but it will not be in time for the budget. <br />Chair Jacobs asked the Manager to keep reporting back to the Board. <br />5. Transition of Long Term Temporary Funding to Meet Permanent County Staff <br />Needs <br />