GILES COUNTY COMMISSION INSURANCE WORK SESSION
17 SEPTEMBER 2026
Opening prayer and pledge was provided by Commissioner Rickie Carpenter. Financial Manager (FM) Beth Moore-Sumners, given that insurance rates have significantly gone up in prices, provided a three-page handout showcasing various options. The handouts (one for county [except for highway} and one for highway) provided a multitude of data areas, e.g., premier, standard, limited, health savings, copay plans; coverage tiers – employee only, employee + children, employee + spouse, and employee+ family; and various county contribution considerations. The handout also showed the cost per coverage tiers by different plans, with a correlation between higher rates vs lower deductibles; coverage by different companies, e.g., Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna local, and Cigna plus, and with a health savings plan which was cheapest for people, and, if not used, those funds which are tax free can be rolled over to the next year (although originally the funds are placed monthly which could affect employees if they incur large expenses earlier in the year).
Per the FM this work session was scheduled ahead of the full commission meeting on 21 September 2026 which can address county contribution, under new business, to employee insurance cost. The county employees can then determine which plan is a better fit for them, given the insurance window to select a plan is 1 October 2026 – 31 October 2026, and given an approved county contribution. Liz Pate, Human Resources, noted there are 286 county employees and of those there are 170 enrolled. She also said that if a spouse works somewhere else and has insurance coverage, they are not eligible to be covered under the county plan. The FM noted that a resolution would be required if the county’s contribution either through a flat amount or percentage is changed. Later the FM asked the commissioners to consider how their decision, other than the cost of such a decision, would affect the county. She noted the potential for higher employee turnover, and damage to county recruitment compared to other corporate recruitment, county contributions has remained the same over 4 years, and raises were lower in part due to those insurance contributions. She also noted the employees had absorbed the increases for several years now.
Discussion addressed the following: This is the second year of a two-year state offered insurance where the first year was at a much less expensive offer, and now given the “lock in” the offer is considerably higher. Questions were asked on why not go outside the state for other vendors with the FM and Ms. Pate saying once leaving the state you are locked out for two years, other companies are aware of the situation and would offer their rates in a less competitive way, and one commissioner, Mike Cesarini spoke on the problems with switching for the employees such as finding new doctors within a specific network of coverage. Re question on cost to the county, the FM noted the handout showed cost for seven months only through 30 June 2026. Option 1 where the county covered the entire increase would go into effect in December for budgeting and in January 2027 for insurance coverage. In Option 2 there is a $1200 maximum county contribution done by percentage and with employees choosing to remain in their now covered plan and would cost in range of $127K – $103K increase to the county (which would come from the county’s fund balance). The proposed $1200 would also be available to those choosing the health savings plan. The last option includes a lot of risk with zero deductible, although Ms. Pate noted a telemedicine doctor will be paid without a deductible and is only available through Blue Cross/Blue Shield. She noted all plans have networks to be considered. The FM in response to Commissioner Rickie Carpenter’s question on pursuing other companies said that you would need to start in January if you wanted to find another company (and reiterated dropping the state insurance plan means staying away from state insurance for another two years). Commissioner James Gentry asked if the rates can be challenged with the response being no, the rates are state wide plans. The FM noted her office is trying to educate county employees on the various options with Commissioner Sarah Suddarth noting education is the key. Commissioner Richard Kemp noted the health savings help with tax reductions and potential refunds. Re questions on how Giles County schools have handled their employee insurance rates going up the FM noted the school employees are in a different pool of state employees and since that number is large, the rate increases are less. Commissioner Rickie Carpenter stated he thought they should all be standard across county employees. Commissioner Gayle Jones commented that in the last budget cycle the county raised the school’s operational budget which helped the schools cover their cost. Officer Josh Bass suggested there could be many options between the $1200 contribution with the FM saying you can choose to offer more or less. Commissioner Tracy Wilburn in noting each employee has choice on which option they select makes it difficult to know how much to budget, with the FM saying under the state plan all options have to be offered. Several discussed too many moving parts with Commissioner Suddarth reiterating that education for the employees is key. She also suggested bringing in somebody to help with that approach. Plans are being pursued to make that happen. For the full legislative meeting the FM said this could be discussed under new business in September but also in October but would leave a short window for employee decision if wait until October. Commissioner Cesarini asked for summarization of each plan, noting cost to county. Ms. Pate said Option 1 county absorbs entire cost of increase, cost in range of $127K – $103K; Option 2 provide a maximum of $1200 for Health Savings account; Option 3 stay in place. Commissioner Chris Winborn asked the FM for her recommendation with her noting that Option 1 would be as win for the employees, but with Option 2 and 3 a budget amendment would not be required with Department Heads absorbing the cost within their budgets. Shana Woodard, Financial Management office said that Option 2 and 3 could drive employees toward the Health Savings plan (all tax free). Commissioner Mike Cesarini asked what the department heads would select with Tommy Hyatt, Tax Assessor and Gene Barnickle, Road Superintendent saying meet in the middle. Commissioner Rickie Carpenter asked if there were any more questions/discussions and called for adjournment.
ATTENDEES: Commissioners Jan Beecham, Lynn Albury, Sarah Suddarth, Tracy Wilburn, Brandon Beard, Rickie Carpenter, Chris Adcock, Thomas Price, Chris Winburn, Tommy Pollard, Gayle Jones, Steve Woods, James Gentry, Richard Kemp, Carman Brown, Judith Pruett, Michael Cesarini (absent Cathy Roberts, Caleb Savage, Matthew Hopkins, Evan Baddour) Others in attendance County Clerk Whitney Kimbrough, Trustee Tony Risner, Tax Assessor Tommy Hyatt, Road Superintendent Gene Barnickle, Sheriff Joe Purvis, Chief Deputy Michael Woodard, Lt. Josh Bass, EMS Chief Walter Daughtery, FM Beth Moore-Sumners, Shana Woodard, HR Director Liz Pate, Solid Waste Coordinator Julie Phillips, Attorney Richard Dunnavant (County Executive Knox Vanderpool absent due to another meeting out of town)