Board-approved budget smaller than last year's

UHC wants an increase in health insurance premiums.
AUSTINTOWN -- The Mahoning County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities approved a $23.3 million 2006 budget, down substantially from the 2005 budget of $26 million.
This year's budget reflects cutbacks in staff and programs, and adheres to the board's financial management plan of using only current-year revenues to meet current-year obligations, said Larry Duck, MRDD superintendent.
The 2006 management plan, which says the board will not approve deficit spending to balance annual operating budgets, also was approved by the board at its meeting Monday at Leonard Kirtz School.
Part of the plan, Duck said, is that carry-over funds and one-time revenue may not be used to balance budgets for ongoing program expenses such as salaries and benefits and operating expenses.
Carryover funds and one-time sources of income are set aside for capital improvements, equipment and bus replacement and other long-term obligations, he added.
Other decisions
In other action, the board authorized Duck to negotiate with United Health Care, the current health insurance carrier, for employee health insurance coverage for the next renewal period, which begins March 1.
Duck said the board has reduced its total spending on health-care benefits for the coming year as a result of changes in plan design, co-pays for all 254 employees, and incentives to not participate if alternate coverage is available to the employees.
Duck said UHC has proposed a 5 percent increase in premiums. He said he will meet with employee bargaining units to get their input.
The next scheduled meeting of the Mahoning County Board of MRDD is at 6 p.m. Feb. 13 at the Centre at Javit Court, 153 Javit Court.