HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Renewal of FY 2023/24 Excess Worker's Compensation Insurance RESOLUTION NO. 23-336
RESOLUTION ACCEPTING 2023/24 EXCESS WORKER'S COMPENSATION
INSURANCE RENEWAL
FOR THE CITY OF AMES,IOWA
WHEREAS, the City began purchasing Excess Workers' Compensation Insurance
coverage brokered by Holmes Murphy on July 1, 2010,to reduce the financial risk of catastrophic
self-insured worker's compensation claims. This coverage limits the City's financial exposure for
self-insured worker's compensation claims (including police and firefighter Chapter 411 injury
disability claims) to a maximum dollar amount per individual claim. Beginning with the FY
2014/15 coverage, this also includes an added layer of aggregate protection for multiple large
claims exceeding a specified amount; and,
WHEREAS, this excess coverage, which is provided by Midwest Employers Casualty
Company (MWECC), will expire on June 30, 2023. Together, the individual claim and aggregate
layer coverages protect the City against unlimited financial exposure for both large individual
claims and catastrophic events where there are multiple injuries. Excess Workers Compensation
rates are typically affected by past claims experience and national trends of overall claims
experience and medical cost inflation; and,
WHEREAS,the City's current policy includes a per-claim threshold of$750,000. The per-
claim threshold is the amount an individual claim must exceed before the excess insurance
provides coverage. All individual claims below the per-claim threshold are paid entirely by the
City in a self-insured manner; and,
WHEREAS, Holmes Murphy received two quotes from the incumbent carrier MWECC.
The first quote was for a 2%increase in the premium per$100 of payroll for one year of coverage.
Due to the expected increase in payroll this results in an overall increase in cost of 5% over FY
2022/23. The quote for one year is $142,698; and,
WHEREAS, MWECC also provided a quote for a two-year guaranteed rate. This quote
was also for a 2% increase of premium per $100 of payroll but results in a slightly higher yearly
cost of$144,014. The overall increase for this year would be 6%. This is due to the increase in
payroll for FY 2023/24 and expected increase in payroll for FY 2024/25; and,
WHEREAS, staff has analyzed the pros and cons of the one- and two-year quote options.
The two-year quote provides the City a guaranteed rate in the second year. In the last three years,
the City's renewals were for 8% (FY 2020/21), 5% (FY 2021/22) and 8% (FY 2022/23) increase
in premium per $100 of payroll. Therefore, even with a slightly higher total premium in the first
year, the two-year proposal is expected to provide savings in the second year that will offset that
difference. It should be noted that the two-year quote is for two, separate one-year policies. Should
the City decide to change its workers' compensation program, it is able to decline coverage for
year two; and,
WHEREAS,the FY 2023/24 City Budget includes $148,693 for this coverage. The budget
and quoted costs are based on the City's estimated FY 2023/24 payroll. The actual amount billed
will be based on reconciliation audits reflecting the City's actual employment numbers across
various employee classifications throughout the year.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Ames, Iowa,
that quote #2 from Holmes Murphy & Associates, for two years of coverage with Midwest
Employers Casualty Company, to be paid in two installments of$144,014 each on July 1, 2023
and July 1, 2024, is hereby approved.
ADOPTED THIS 131h day of June, 2023.
Renee hall, City Clerk John A. Haila, Mayor
Introduced by: Corrieri
Seconded by: Rollins
Voting aye: Beatty-Hansen, Betcher, Corrieri, Gartin, Rollins
Voting nay: None Absent: Junck
Resolution declared adopted and signed by the Mayor this 13th day of June, 2023.