Porter County’s credit rating has been upgraded by the S&P 500 from AA- to AA, making more advantageous borrowing rates available as the county embarks on a fresh $25 million capital bond to build a new highway garage and renovate the Porter County Jail.

“Our consultants tell me this puts us in some very rare air,” Porter County Attorney Scott McClure told the Board of Commissioners at its monthly morning meeting Tuesday. “They also were happy with our budgeting approach.”

The board voted unanimously Tuesday to pass a resolution dubbed “Making Findings of Need for Certain Capital Projects and Related Matters.” The sale of bonds is expected before the end of the year as they will be replacing what is commonly referred to as “The Jail Bond” which will be retired in January and was the financing mechanism for the construction of the jail.

After being occupied for the past 21 years, the 126,000-square-foot facility is in need of overhauls to its roof, plumbing and HVAC systems. DLZ Corporation is in the design phase currently identifying “mission critical” aspects of the renovation such as how to work around the server, according to Scott Cherry of Skillman Corporation, which is managing the renovation. Cherry said completed schematic drawings are expected in the next four to five weeks.

He also presented updates on the Highway Garage project and the Memorial Opera House renovation, also being managed by Skillman. The Highway Garage project is in the schematic design phase as well and completed drawings are expected by the end of the week. They will be presented for the board’s review at its next meeting.

On the MOH renovation, which is not being funded by a bond but by $5 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act grant money, tuckpointing has been completed on the east and south sides of the building, with the north and west sides scheduled for completion in the next six weeks. The board unanimously approved the advertising of Bid Package 2 for the project, which will encompass work by general trades, as well as plumbing and electrical contractors.

Bid Package 3 has yet to be created and will cover furnishings.

In other business, the board unanimously approved group employee health benefits for next year. Consultant Eric Gibson of GIS told the commissioners the county’s prescription and medical costs are up 3.2%. “Industry trend right now is actually 8 to 12%, so you guys are doing phenomenally,” Gibson said.

Claims liability costs have decreased by 2%. At Gibson’s recommendation the board increased COBRA rates by 3%. Vendor Met Life, which has been the county’s provider of life, dental, and vision insurance, is charging the county 6% more for dental coverage and 4% more for vision coverage, though Gibson advised the Board to switch from Met to Equitable for the life insurance after Met raised that rate by 23%.

Expected group employee health benefits costs are expected to go to $11.3 million for 2024 and have run to $10.5 million so far in 2023.

Shelley Jones is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.