Blackhawk County Board approves 5% reduction in health insurance costs for FY26 budget

The Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors convened on April 8, 2025, to discuss several key agenda items, including the ongoing renovations at Pinecrest and the fiscal year 2026 budget.

The meeting began with a discussion on the Pinecrest renovations, specifically Phase A, which pertains to the Veterans Affairs (VA) center. Phase B will focus on the health department and clinic. The board reviewed the bids for the project, initially expecting four but confirming only three were received. After a motion to close the hearing on the bids, the board unanimously agreed to review and place the bids on file for further consideration.

Following the bid discussions, the board shifted its focus to the fiscal year 2026 budget, particularly health insurance costs. Tim Jamieson and Amanda Fezenmeyer presented a plan to reduce health insurance premiums by 5% without compromising employee benefits. This reduction is expected to save taxpayers approximately $342,083, lowering the overall tax increase from 5% to 4.1%. The board reviewed the impact of these changes on individual property taxes, noting minimal decreases for residential and commercial properties.

Jamieson provided detailed comparisons of property tax assessments, indicating that a residential property valued at $100,000 would see a tax decrease of $3. The board also discussed the implications of a hypothetical $20,000 budget cut, which would have a negligible effect on individual property taxes.

The meeting concluded with a motion to adopt the proposed health insurance cost reduction, which was seconded and passed unanimously. The board expressed confidence that these changes would benefit both employees and taxpayers while maintaining necessary services.

Overall, the meeting highlighted the board's commitment to fiscal responsibility and transparency in managing county resources. Further discussions and actions regarding the budget and ongoing projects are anticipated in future meetings.