Oct 09, 2015 — Plattsburgh lawmakers said they’ve found a way to save a lot of money. Last night, the city voted to try out a new health insurance plan for retired city employees. Officials said the new plan includes the same benefits as the old one and will save the city almost half a million dollars, but a lot of retirees are worried about the change.

About every seat was taken at the Council Chambers. Retired city employees were there to hear about the new health insurance plan proposed by Mayor Jim Calnon. “We’re considering it not because we’re trying to balance a budget on the backs of retirees," he said. "What we’re actually doing is following really the fiduciary responsibility that every elected official has. And that is to find the best quality product at the best possible price.”

Calnon said he hopes the new health plan will take effect on January 1. It will be a Medicare plan like the city has now. The difference is that the existing plan is insured by the city. The new one will be administered through an insurance company called Humana, and the mayor said it will save the city about $400,000. Lawmakers voted four to one in favor of trying it out for one year.

But a lot of people were suspicious of Humana. Jamie Anderson, a nurse at the local hospital, said the insurance company micromanages people’s health care. “They’re basically dictating what you can have and what you cannot have for care, and who you can and who you cannot see,” Anderson said.

Mayor Calnon said that will not be the case with the city’s retirees. He said Humana is tailoring a special plan for the city that replicates the medical benefits in the existing plan. “This should not be a difficult situation. We don’t want anyone to be nervous about this. We’re really here trying to protect the benefits for our employees. And if we’re wrong, if something that Humana has presented to us does not hold up, then we want to make the change right away,” he said.

The 2016 budget barely came up last night, but Calnon and the city councilors are struggling to find ways to save money.

Calnon presented his budget proposal to the common council earlier this month. His plan would raise taxes by a lot more than what is allowed in New York State. The state’s cap on how much local governments can raise property taxes is about one percent for next year. Under the mayor’s budget, taxes would go up by about 10 percent. That’s about $800,000.

The new health insurance plan cuts the shortfall in half, but the common council still has to find ways to save another $400,000. They are due to adopt the final budget by January 15.

Calnon said lawmakers will also keep a close eye on the rollout of the new health plan to make sure it really does mirror the previous one.