JASPER, Tenn. – New rules at the state level are forcing local county and city governments to choose whether or not to continue offering a particular health and vision benefit to employees.
At the Marion County Commission’s February meeting, County Mayor David Jackson said the benefit allows workers who retire from their job before the age of 65 to still get insurance coverage at their own expense.
“Under the new [Governmental Accounting Standards Board] rules, we have to show it on our books as a liability, even though we’re not financing it,” he said.
Marion has about 17 employees who are eligible for the benefit, and Jackson said that means $29,228 will be “shown as a paper trail and has to be carried on the books” in the next fiscal year.
“That number may increase, may decrease, going forward, depending on the number of employees who are eligible or are participating in the program,” County Attorney Billy Gouger said.