Cedar Rapids City Council members may be able to enroll in public insurance benefits

CEDAR RAPIDS — Future members of the nine-member Cedar Rapids City Council will likely have the option to opt into health and dental insurance benefits, but will still be paid as part-time officeholders.

The council on Tuesday unanimously advanced an ordinance on first consideration stating that when council members start a term, the elected officials will be “entitled to the group insurance benefits that are made available to regular full-time nonbargaining supervisory, professional and management employees.”

This means that current council members would have to be reelected to be eligible for benefits, and any future new council members could enroll in benefits.

For the policy to be officially enacted, the council has to approve it on the a second and possible third reading at a future meeting. The council next meets June 25. Council members Ashley Vanorny and Tyler Olson were absent Tuesday.

Under the proposal, council members shall pay 15 percent of the monthly health and dental insurance premium cost for such group insurance. The council members may enroll consistent with city policy for nonbargaining employee benefit enrollment.

The mayor and council may choose to decline any group benefits provided for the position in writing. Any written declination of benefits would take effect from the date specified in writing to the end of the council member’s term. This would cancel the council member’s entitlement to such benefits for the remainder of the term.

Council members serve four-year terms. In fiscal 2024, the budget year ending June 30, the mayor was paid $45,792.76 and council members received $22,903.14, according to the Finance Department. Their salaries are adjusted annually by the finance director as outlined in Cedar Rapids’ Home Rule Charter, the governing document outlining the city’s council-manager form of government.

In receiving salary, allowance for expenses and group insurance, or in declining such benefits, each council member would “assume any tax consequences resulting therefrom and hold the city harmless from any such consequence,” according to the proposed ordinance.

“I feel like it may make these positions more accessible,” Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell said of the proposed policy change. “I support how we’re paid as part-time council members, but I think for some people that could be a barrier, and having the option to have insurance may allow somebody to run for council.”

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