Healthcare costs…insurance premiums, prescription drugs, physician fees…all have skyrocketed over the past few years. There appears to be little relief in sight as politicians haggle over solutions at a snail’s pace, with special interest healthcare industry lobbyists circumventing the process.
A sizable portion of county property taxes funds healthcare premiums for county employees, with yet another increase as part of the 2018 levy. As the taxpaying public struggles to find money in their own budgets to offset increases in personal healthcare costs, it seems we will also be required to pony up the funds to cover higher premiums for our county staff.
Most non-governmental workers in Cook County don’t receive paid healthcare…let alone compensation for vacation days, sick leave, holidays, parental leave, health club membership, a retirement plan and the multitude of benefits county employees enjoy. Automatically picking up the check for their premium increases seems a bit like another “non-taxable benefit” pay raise at our expense doesn’t it?
Perhaps that premium increase could be shouldered by county employees themselves…call it a bit of good will by the “haves” to share in the plight of the “have-nots” who attempt to stay financially afloat as the cost of living in our county continues to rise in double digit increments.
There’s talk on the national level over those less fortunate and the Social Security recipients who receive “entitlement handouts” from the government…looks as though there’s plenty of that going to the top of the pile also.
Bob LaMettry
Grand Marais
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