City Administrator Tom Ourada stated that Dan Duren with Benefit Management would be explaining the employee benefit insurance renewal for 2026-2027. Duren stated that employees can continue with the two options that they currently have with a higher premium for the national network and employees would be responsible for the increase premium cost and adding two additional health insurance policies through Medica ACO Network with a matching current premiums that employees can elect for their medical insurance. 
Ourada stated that people can select the national network or the narrow network and everyone saves. Employees can select the national network and it would be at the employee cost. Mayor Dave Bauer asked Duren to explain if people can go out of network for an emergency. Duren stated that in an emergency people can go anywhere including out of network and then when they are stable they can go to an in network location. 
Ourada explained that this is not a policy change but there is alternate coverage option on the employee expense. Duran explained there is a slight increase on the dental and vision. 

City Administrator Tom Ourada provided a report to the Finance Committee on the cost cutting measures and results to date. Ourada stated that the City of Crete is faced with a $640,000 shortfall in Municipal Equalization Fund for budget 2026-2027 and that’s about a 16% reduction of revenue. All have been notified and all the actions have taken place. That takes us through the end of June and people can finish out the week and go into July and people leaving will get benefits into July and the fourth of July holiday. Ourada mentioned he outlined the Library full time and part-time position, full time and part-time Community Assistance, and the full time and existing vacancy not filled for the Police Department, Parks and Rec one full time position and City Hall one full time reduced and retasked and City Hall one part-time eliminated. Ourada explained the savings through staff reductions and that is about a $350,000. That leaves us about $290,000 short and if you raise the levy $.05 that will get you fairly close. You can raise it between 3 and 5 and depending if you want to do it all this year or some next year. Raising the levy $.05 would yield $270,000 and that leaves us $20,000. We did talk about not having cost of living raises for any department this year and for the tax side that yields about $20,700 so it comes very close to balancing the budget. If you do the $.05 you will need an additional $.01 or $.02 for 2027-2028 and we need to consider that for any rising costs beyond our control like insurance and other operations. We have some bond  levy room that could be helpful in future years. Ourada mentioned he spoke a lot to Mayor Bauer about this and the council members' input was helpful.