A Tuscarawas County Board of Elections member is objecting to the commissioners’ decision to stop offering them health insurance.
Mark Waltz says he felt shocked and blind-sided when he learned that insurance benefits for elections board members were being discontinued at the end of their terms.
“I’ve sat in meetings with this board including the HR director and there’s been no discussion, no mention, no heads-up that this action was being considered.”
The commissioners unanimously approved the change last week, citing increasing premiums and the fact that other county employees aren’t eligible for health insurance unless they work 30 hours or more each week.
Commissioner Chris Abbuhl rejected the original proposal, which would have dropped board members from next year’s plan.
Waltz has waived healthcare coverage since being appointed to the elections board. However, two of the other three members take advantage, costing the county over 40-thousand dollars annually.
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