County Approves Insurance Eligibility for Furloughed WIC Employees

Saline County Commissioners approved a measure Monday to protect health insurance eligibility for WIC employees who may face furloughs due to the ongoing federal government shutdown.

The resolution, presented by Human Resources Director Marilyn Lemur, allows employees to maintain health insurance coverage during mandatory temporary furloughs or reduced work schedules if such actions become necessary.

"Due to the current budget concerns related to WIC funding due to the federal shutdown, staff have evaluated several cost-saving measures," Lemur explained. Under the approved plan, the county would continue to cover its portion of insurance premiums, while affected employees would remain responsible for their share.

Health Department Director Jason Tiller reported that WIC funding for staff salaries and benefits ended October 10th. The department has been using savings from vacant positions to maintain operations through approximately November 12th.

"We're trying everything we can to keep staff engaged and working," Tiller said, noting that the department is exploring multiple options before implementing furloughs, including shifting staff to other temporary positions within the health department and using funds from vacant positions.

The measure would affect six full-time WIC employees.

Tiller emphasized that furloughs would be "the extreme last resort," particularly given the difficulty in recruiting specialized positions like dieticians.

Commissioners expressed concern about the situation but unanimously approved the insurance protection measure as a proactive step to respond quickly if funding reductions require temporary furloughs within the WIC program.