Monongalia County commissioners voted Oct. 29 to establish a clearing account for employee health insurance premiums and to prefund that account to cover the initial month’s payments and a reserve.

County staff explained the change is required by a new insurance process and that payroll draws for premiums will occur multiple times during sign‑up. Staff described the prefunding amount as the sum of estimated monthly premiums plus an account reserve and a self‑enrollee buffer. The total prefunding amount presented to the commission was $509,027.82.

A commissioner clarified timing and signatures needed to move funds; staff said the prefunding will bridge the first month of premium collections and provide a buffer during sign‑up. The motions to create the account and to prefund it carried unanimously.