On state employee benefits, JFAC unanimously backs recommendation from governor, CEC panel

On state employee benefits, JFAC has agreed to cover the employer portion of health insurance cost increases next year for state employees, as recommended both by Gov. Butch Otter and the Legislature’s joint Change in Employee Compensation Committee, and build that into each state agency budget it sets starting next week. Employees still will have to cover their portion of the increase. For the state, the increase is estimated at $860 per full-time state employee.

For the state general fund, the increased cost in fiscal year 2018 is estimated at $7.9 million. The joint committee agreed by unanimous consent to go with the recommendation.