Free City Council Health Insurance must end in 2011

When I ran for City Council in 2009 I pledged to vote on removing free health insurance offered to the City Council. November 2nd, 2009 I brought this matter up during our budget discussion on a way to reduce the cost of government. (originally wrote in blog Nov. 2009)

State law does not allow benefits to be changed (lowered or raised) during the full term of a elected official. We can however change the code so all elected officials stop receiving FREE health insurance elected in 2011 and beyond.

The best practice for Council/Managerial 32,000 population towns like ourselves is clearly and obviously no health insurance benefits to City Councils.

Since this policy was enacted some 30+ years ago, health costs have skyrocketed. With the challenges of the current economic climate we need be clear and conservative on any spending. As we streamline government, Health Insurance for the Council should be first to go in our budget process for 2011 and will save us MILLIONS. The City Council must change the code now to inform candidates of the 2011 race what their benefits will be during their term as Mayor or Councilman. We must control government costs and the City Council can't be immune as we reduce expenditures and do what is right for our community.

Currently an ordinance to continue the practice of FREE COUNCIL HEATH INSURANCE for FOUR more years will be discussed at our September 13th meeting and I would like the public to weigh in on this issue and help me convince the Council to end this practice.