Higher healthcare costs and no pay raises for county employees. Those are the key points of Kent County’s budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
Kent County Levy Court approved the $76.7 million spending plan for fiscal year 2017 Tuesday night.
In the new budget, health insurance premiums will double for full-time employees and retirees not eligible for Medicare. This is the second straight year health premiums have increased by $30 for county workers (they paid nothing for coverage before fiscal year 2016).
Total healthcare cost for county workers is now $60 a month. Employees wanting to continue with $30-a-month coverage will see reduced benefits.
Kent County is asking workers to contribute more to health insurance because Highmark insurance premiums increased by more than 20 percent in the current fiscal year.
Retirees and employees will receive a one percent cost-of-living adjustment in compensation but will not receive merit-based STEP increases.
The budget takes effect July 1.