Council calls special session on insurance

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Town considers raising employer-paid premium cap

The Paradise Police Department is asking the town council to purchase three new police vehicles at a cost of $235,000. The department notes because of worldwide supply chain issues, the vehicles it purchased in March 2021 have yet to arrive. The department is also asking because of that supply chain issue that the council purchase the vehicles out of Measure V funds instead of leasing them. PARADISE POST FILE

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By Jake Hutchison

jhutchison@chicoer.com

PARADISE >> Given the increase in premiums related to PERS health coverage, the Paradise Town Council is considering raising the cap by which the town pays for monthly premiums from 50% to 80%.

The council called a special session, which is scheduled for 3 p.m. Wednesday, where it will consider resolutions to make this increase for the town’s five bargaining units.

These units consist of the Police Officers Association, Management, Confidential/Mid-Management, Police Management/Mid-Management and the General Employees unit.

“The current medical cap places the Town at a competitive disadvantage for attracting and retaining employees,” the related staff report said. “The implementation of a variable rate, sharing increases between the Town and the employees, rather than having the employee burden the full cost of year-over-year increase, was the number one issue raised by the employee bargaining groups.”

It is estimated that the total increase for the 2025-26 fiscal year will come out to $995,000.

The Paradise Town Council generally meets at 9 a.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month; Wednesday’s 3 p.m. special session is also at its chambers located at 5555 Skyway in Paradise. Meetings are free and open to the public.