Representative Thomas Introduces the Local Government Employees Using State Insurance Pool Act

State Representative Thomas (R-Jefferson) today announced the introduction of new legislation to both lower costs paid by local governments for employee's insurance and streamline the administrative process to save taxpayer dollars.

"As I discuss cost savings measures with local governments often the expense of insurance is a common theme for both employees and the taxpayer," said Thomas. "It is usually our smaller local governments that struggle to keep these costs in check due to less payers in their insurance pool, but even larger local entities would benefit from this arrangement."

The proposed legislation gives permissive authority to local governments to elect to join the State Department of Administrative Services Health Insurance pool. This concept allows local government employees the ability to purchase insurance in a much larger pool of participants, driving down costs to the local taxpayer and applying uniform benefits for our local employees.

"The same health insurance we all enjoy should be available for our local government public servants," said Thomas. "Each entity can decide if it is better for the taxpayer if they would opt into the state plan or stick with their current plan."

Changing the local government property tax structure is an ongoing priority for Rep. Thomas in his fight for taxpayer relief. According to Rep. Thomas, lowering government spending and obligations is the other side of the coin to help taxpayers.

This legislation awaits a bill number and committee assignment.