Marion County employees have a new health plan which will cost them about the same for the coming year, with lower rates for their dental plan.

The Board of Supervisors voted on Tuesday morning in favor of the plan offered by Wellmark; Board Chair Mark Raymie tells KNIA/KRLS News the county’s personnel have used their health insurance well, and this along with the assistance of Holmes Murphy as their broker, has helped keep costs down.

“Usage and just the way that the employees have been utilizing those benefits has been very conscientious, and so we’re seeing some savings along those lines,” Raymie says.

“And it’s a good program; we feel it’s a very competitive program relative to our other employers in Marion County.”

The Board also approved an amendment to its fiscal year 19 budget, which runs through the end of next month; they budgeted 100 percent for this year, but had only appropriated 95 percent in order to leave some room at the end of the year to make adjustments.