City looking to provide domestic partner benefits to employees next year

“We’ve been supportive of it all along, but just wanted to know what the potential financial implications would be,” said Councilwoman Chris Knisely.

City Human Resources Director Claudia Reagan compiled figures for Council estimating the potential cost of providing such a benefit to employees’ domestic partners — whether they be heterosexual or homosexual.

According to Reagan’s information, there are a total of 161 employees. Of those employees, 39 have single coverage and nine have employee-plus-child coverage. That means that potentially 48 current city employees could qualify to enroll domestic partners on their insurance plan.

However, after speaking with representatives from Ohio University, which provides domestic partner benefits to its employees, Reagan said a more likely number of city employees who might enroll domestic partners would be about 10.

If 10 employees enroll their domestic partners on the city’s health insurance plan, that would be an added cost of $7,251 in premiums for the city, Reagan said.

Reagan said that the cost of claims would also likely rise if some domestic partners are enrolled in the city’s health insurance plan, but noted that claim figures are always an unknown.

Knisely said the city consulted with Greg Fialko, director of benefits at Ohio University, when estimating how many employees might enroll domestic partners for health insurance.

Out of about 3,300 OU employees, there were around 80 potential employees that could have enrolled in the university’s domestic partner benefits, however only 11 enrolled initially, Knisely said.

If Council votes to provide domestic partner benefits, Knisely said the couples would be required to fill out an affidavit to confirm that they are actual domestic partners. Such requirements include sharing a permanent residence, being in a committed relationship for at least six months, being responsible for one another’s common welfare, not being legally married to another person, and more.

The idea of providing benefits to city employees’ domestic partners came from a group of Athens residents and OU representatives that approached the city two years ago. The group also recommended strengthening the city’s hate crime legislation and providing a domestic partner registry — both of which Council has approved.

Council is expected to introduce an ordinance next week to establish benefits for domestic partners. Reagan said if Council approves the ordinance, domestic partner benefits enrollment could begin Jan. 1.

There are currently a total of 264 dependents enrolled in the city’s health insurance plan.

sbrumfield@athensmessenger.com

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