No city employee healthcare hike

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - The City of Mobile proposed budget compromise will not include an increase in employee healthcare contribution, Mobile Mayor Sam Jones said Monday.

Jones said last Thursday during the City Council Finance Committee that he vehemently opposed a recommendation from the Council’s Citizen’s Budget Advisory Committee – which would increase employees share from 18 percent to 27 percent for single coverage and 47 percent for retirees.

"Due to the fact that city employees have not received a pay raise in nearly five years, it would be unfair to accept the committee’s recommendation," Jones said. “In last week’s meeting, I communicated my opposition to that recommendation, it stands the same today.”

Increasing the cost sharing contribution for employees has been discussed by the mayor as well as by an Employee Healthcare Committee.

“We all realize that the cost of healthcare is rising, but NOW is not the time for an increase,” the mayor said. “In an effort to bring clarity to the issue, I simply shared what had been discussed (as it relates to healthcare cost). It is my position that employee healthcare cost will remain the same, with NO increase.”

All changes to the city’s healthcare plan are normally implemented in January.

Chasity Byrd will have more on FOX10 News at 4 p.m.