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By PAULENE POPARAD Westchester Public Library joined the growing ranks of employers switching to Health Savings Accounts to better manage medical-insurance coverage and premiums. The library had been facing a 21.8 percent premium hike under its current carrier, Principal, but Mike Anton and Leigh Westergren of Anton Insurance presented Principal’s revised group-insurance plan that at a total $154,790 annually saves $27,610 over renewal under the current plan. One reason for the savings is that WPL significantly increased its deductibles, which resulted in a much lower $114,840 base premium. However, WPL will fund fully the deductible for employees via individual HSA accounts so there’s no out-of-pocket cost or co-pay for medical expenses. Doing so will cost the library $28,850 in deductibles for eleven individual employees and $14,100 for three having dependents. Voting unanimously Thursday, the Library Board approved the insurance package effective Sept. 1. Employees have the option of depositing additional money into their HSA, which potentially can be used for other medical expenses like vision and dental that aren’t regularly covered. Should an employee leave, the HSA funds can be taken with them and any unused funds can be carried over into the next year. Library director Phil Baugher said three insurance proposals were considered but the one chosen means no change in network or providers. Westergren said it’s a better plan for employees with greater savings for WPL. In other business, the board voted to readvertise and readopt its proposed 2009 budget after state tax officials changed a prescribed form. Baugher said he’d rather be safe than sorry and not risk having the budget rejected because of a piece of paper. A new public hearing will take place at 7 p.m. Sept. 11. Next year’s operating fund is set at $2,616,324 compared to the submitted but unapproved 2008 budget of $2,515,696. Another wrinkle this year is that the Porter County Council is required to review WPL’s 2009 budget proposal with 19 other local-government units seeking a non-binding council recommendation under a new state law. WPL is scheduled for Sept. 22. Baugher was authorized to invest approximately $500,000 Porter County recently distributed to WPL as spring 2008 property taxes collected. The library currently has $2,745,036 invested and $4,764,516 million in all funds. During discussion of July statistics board members commented on the continued drop in Thomas Library circulation, down 5.32 percent year-to-date over 2007 although Hageman Library in Porter showed a nearly 9 percent increase. Thomas adult non-fiction circulation dropped 6.82 percent while adult fiction was up 19.53 percent. In addition to library department closures some days due to remodeling, Baugher said it’s the increasing use of the Internet being felt. “We have to see what we can do to get more people to borrow books and materials. We’re doing the best we can to make our services available.” One way, he explained, is providing the public access to accurate subscription data bases. “You can’t just Google something and expect to get the right answer,” said Baugher. Next year he plans to use some non-fiction money to purchase more fiction materials. “When people look for facts, they go to the Internet. When they’re looking to escape, they go to the beach with a book.” Another way to get more people into the libraries was suggested by Library Board member Sharon Robbins and endorsed by the board. Volunteers will be offered the opportunity twice a month to Adopt-A-Shelf and help keep the library’s materials in the correct order. By doing so, patrons and staff can find them much faster. Volunteers can be responsible for more than one shelf. Also Thursday, the Library Board adopted a technology plan for 2009-2011 in order to maintain eligibility for grant funding. The plan goals include expand wireless public access to Hageman in 2010, continue to upgrade computer hardware and software, update the website of the WPL-operated Westchester Township History Museum, and possibly repeat 2007’s popular A Day in the Life of Westchester Township photo project. In each of 2009-2011 approximately $80,000 would be spent annually on technology-related hardware, software, telecommunications, maintenance and supplies, and training and support. The Library Board concurred with Baugher’s proposed guidelines for having WPL employees earn library education units now tied to new state certification for library employees; they may be authorized to take classes online during normal working hours as long as they have not yet accumulated enough LEUs required for recertification. If employees are busy with LEU classes, Robbins asked if there will be a problem filling needed jobs, especially in light of illness, vacations and anticipated staff changes. Baugher had recommended earlier this year not filling vacancies too quickly to save money; Thursday he said the staffing levels are being monitored closely. “This is the economy we’re in right now,” said board member Karen Nash. “It’s typical of companies making these decisions. It’s like a preemptive decision so we don’t have to make harder decisions.” The board did agree to hire Ben Mullin as a page at 10 hours per week. WPL has over 70 total employees, 15 of them full-time, working in four buildings.
Posted 8/15/2008
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