Proposal would cut health insurance for Porter County Council, commissioners

VALPARAISO | Porter County Councilman Jeremy Rivas, D-2nd, said he was surprised when he was offered health insurance coverage from the county after being elected to office last year.

He knew of part-time employees who were not eligible for the coverage after working for the county for years, he said.

"I still think it's wrong," he said.

Rivas attempted to amend the situation Tuesday by proposing an ordinance that would cut off funding in 2013 for health insurance for the Porter County Council and commissioners.

The proposal was taken under consideration by his peers on the council, and Rivas said he plans to make another push for the change during the group's next meeting Feb. 28. He thinks he has enough support to pass the ordinance.

"We're the ones who set compensation," he said of a potential conflict with the commissioners, who administer the insurance plan.

Porter County Commissioner President John Evans, R-North, could not be reached Wednesday for comment.

Those receiving benefits include half of the 10 members of the council and Board of Commissioners and 13 of the county's 15 public defenders and 20 of their dependents, according to statistics requested of the county auditor's office.

Chief Public Defender Ken Elwood has defended his staff's coverage, saying nearly half work at or near full-time capacity and use their private offices and staff members.

It would cost the county far more to open a full-time public defender's office, he said.

Rivas also supports the proposed limitation in coverage as a way to begin reducing the county's rising costs for its self-funded plan, he said. The cost rose from $7.5 million in 2010 to $9.3 million last year, according to the auditor's office. There are 582 employees or officials on the plan and 765 dependents.

Council members are offered the insurance coverage in addition to their annual salary of $13,895, or $15,895 for the president. The commissioners are offered the benefit along with annual pay of $35,411, or $39,491 for the president.