On Monday the town of Fort Myers Beach Town Council approved an 11% increase in medical benefits coverage for its employees. The increase translates to another $140,986 that the taxpayers will have to cover.
The town pays 100% of the insurance benefits for employees and 50% for dependents.
Council member John McLean wanted to see a municipality comparison report after noting that the employee contributions were so low. He said in the private sector the employee contribution is typically much higher. Fort Myers Beach H.R. Director Talissa Oliveira did not have the report but said she would provide that comparison report to the council before the 2027 budget is approved. She also said providing this type of coverage is needed to be competitive for employees. She specifically said the Fort Myers Beach is competing with Lee County for employees.
The Town’s current medical coverage is provided through Cigna while dental, vision, life, STD, & LTD was covered through The Standard. The town voted to switch providers for dental & vision to Cigna which was offering a small discount.
Again…the current TC needs to stop making decisions and stop spending money until the new Council is in place. Maybe they can figure out what’s going on and clean up this mess. My supplemental insurance doubled this year, I had to cover it. TC needs to remember they are suppose to be managing a business not their neighborhood block party for their friends. Hard decisions need to be made and they need to start doing that! If they can’t, postpone decisions to the new TC in November.
TC asked a few questions about how coverage compares to others and seemed like cost was an issue but then voted to approve the increase……. More spending of our money….. it’s out of control!!!! When does it stop?? The lady that spoke in public comments hit the nail on the head…. TC has champagne tastes and a beer budget …but so far they don’t seem to have embraced this fact and keep spending!!!
This is the biggest abuse of power I have ever seen. Mayor Dan and all his cronies except the respectable John King spend other people’s money like drunken sailors.
From raising property taxes to 30% and now we as taxpayers have to cover their medical insurance premiums increase. That’s too much. My health insurance increased and I, ME! Had to cover it. That’s enough. This needs to be brought up to Ron Desantis and legislators.