7/28/26 Workshops

This was a workshop meeting of the Highlands County School Board held on July 28, 2026, focused primarily on health insurance topics and budget adoption. The board discussed the significant financial impact of health insurance claims on the district's general fund, noting over $3 million transferred to cover insurance costs and a particularly high claim week of $1.2 million. Two vendors, Centria Foundation Risk Partners and FBMC Benefits Management, both approved by the Fleet trust, presented their contract effectuation services aimed at managing and educating employees about the district's self-funded health insurance plan to control costs and improve utilization of benefits such as wellness clinics. Both vendors emphasized employee education, open enrollment support, and ongoing plan management, with proposals including commissions and minimal fees passed to employees for ancillary benefits. The board also reviewed and adopted tentative millage rates and a tentative budget of approximately $188.9 million for fiscal year 2026-2027, noting a 1.19% increase over the rollback rate and highlighting the need to control health insurance costs to address budget deficits. Motions to adopt the millage rates and budget were passed by roll call vote.