Forsyth County has backed off a plan that would have restored extended health care coverage to elected officials when they leave office.
The measure was up for consideration Thursday evening, but County Commission Chairman Brian Tam had the item removed from the agenda over the protests of two other commissioners.
The plan has drawn fire among some residents, who call it an extravagance.
"Just who do you think you are -- congressmen and senators?" resident Ralph Stepp asked commissioners during public comment. "Have you forgotten -- like they have -- that you work for the people?"
The measure would restore some of the health care benefits eliminated last year when the prior County Commission pared down coverage. It would allow elected officials leaving office who have completed one full term to remain on the county's health care plan at employee rates for the same number of years that they held office. An official with four years of service, for example, could keep the same plan at employee rates for four years after he or she leaves office. After that, he or she could continue on the plan at the prevailing retiree rates, which are usually higher, until he or she qualifies for Medicare or becomes eligible for another health insurance plan.
Currently, elected officials with one full term qualify for one year of health benefits at the retiree rate for whichever plan they are enrolled in, single or family coverage. Before 2010, elected officials could stay on the plan at the same rate until they either qualified for another plan or became Medicare eligible.
Most other metro counties have health care benefit packages for elected officials who are leaving office.
Gwinnett County gives elected officials a one-time opportunity when they leave office to keep their coverage at the retiree rate until they qualify for another group plan or until they qualify for Medicare. Eight other area counties, including Fulton, give elected officials credit for their years in office and apply it to the same retiree plan as employees receive.
Tam said he decided to remove the item from the agenda because he didn't think there had been enough information provided on the subject.
Commissioner Pete Amos, who will be Medicare eligible soon, said he thinks the county ought to provide some sort of benefit to elected officers. Otherwise, he said, only the wealthy and elderly will be able to serve.
Commissioner Jim Boff, who brought the issue to the forefront by voting against it in a work session last week, said he wants to know the costs to the county before committing it to a future obligation.
"Based on the information I have right at the moment," he said, "I don't see how expanding beyond what we already have makes any sense at all."
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