PATTERSON – Louisiana residents are seeing steep increases in their insurance costs. So are local governments.
The Patterson City Council on Tuesday got a heads-up about a 12.8% increase in premiums required to provide health insurance for city government employees.
Also Tuesday, the council voted to apply for a loan through a program that could provide the city’s share of nearly $7.4 million in state capital outlay funds for water and sewer improvements.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana has notified Patterson that its premiums will increase by 12.8% for next year, Chief Financial Officer Reginal Weary told the council Tuesday.
That follows last year’s 14.2% increase, Weary said.
The city pays 75% of the cost of health insurance for long-time employees. For newer employees, the city pays 75% of the cost of individual insurance and 50% for families.
Weary suggested that the city could explore options such as higher co-pays or high-deductible coverage with health savings accounts.
Mayor Rodney Grogan noted that his property insurance broker shops for the best rates from multiple companies.
“I think our carrier should fight for us,” Grogan said.
Council took no action on employee health insurance at Tuesday’s meeting.
Infrastructure loan
The council voted to approve a resolution authorising an application for a loan from the Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund, a state-federal programme designed to support improvements to local water systems.
The state’s capital budget for this year awarded Patterson $5 million for upgrades to its new water plant required by the Louisiana Department of Health. The state also awarded Patterson about $2.4 million for upgrades to nine pump stations in the sewer system.
But the money requires a 25% match from the city, which would total $1.25 million for the water system.
The revolving fund offers loans at 2.45% interest for up to 30 years, and 30% of principal repayments up to $200,000 can be forgiven, according to the programme’s website.
The programme’s Facebook page reports loans of $6 million to the Ward 2 Water District in Livingston Parish, $4.24 million to West Feliciana Parish and $3.5 million to the Catahoula Parish village of Harrisonburg, all since March.
Also Tuesday:
The council approved the appointment of Tempest Jackson to the board of the Patterson Housing Authority. Jackson will replace LaToya Darnell, who resigned.
Patterson’s Morey Park will be the starting point for the Puttin’ on the Pink walk and run starting at 4 p.m. Saturday.
The event, a project of Roots and Ribbons, will raise money to support local breast cancer patients and survivors.
The Patterson Volunteer Fire Department will hold an open house from 10am to 1pm on Saturday. The event will feature kitchen fire and extrication demonstrations, food and drink, and giveaways.
