Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com
Published - Tuesday, April 10, 2007
La Crosse County OKs domestic partner benefits
La Crosse County on Monday became the third local government to provide domestic partner benefits to some of its employees.
On a 20-6 vote, with one abstention, the county board ratified two union contracts that extend medical and dental insurance and other benefits to unmarried partners of the opposite or same gender.
“This is not a political statement,” said Board Chairman Steve Doyle, noting the move will save taxpayers money because the unions settled for less in raises to get the benefits.
Most counties in the state have been settling contracts with 3 percent raises, but La Crosse was able to settle for 2 percent, Doyle said.
The contracts are for 173 professionals and 252 paraprofessionals in Local 2484, who work in the Health and Human Services departments.
In a memo to the board, Personnel Director Robert Taunt estimated three people in each unit would convert from single to family coverage, at a combined cost of about $39,000 a year. The savings of 1 percent in raises to the county is $149,299.
Taunt’s memo said domestic partner benefits “are not the norm” among Wisconsin counties but more than 9,000 employers in the nation are offering some level of benefits.
He said after several years of offering domestic partner benefits, Western Technical College has only five people participating and the La Crosse School District has fewer than 10 people participating.
Supervisor Ralph Geary asked about safeguards against abuse, such as getting health insurance for a friend who needs a heart transplant at taxpayer expense.
Taunt said the measure contains a 12-month exemption for pre-existing conditions, and employees must sign an affidavit and show evidence of shared financial obligations, such as both names on a lease or utility bill.
“We need to be sensitive to the fact that times are changing,” said Supervisor Sharon Hampson. “All around the country, domestic partner benefits are becoming more and more common.”
Supervisor Maureen Freedland referred to a debate several years ago about whether county supervisors should be able to get county health insurance.
“I don’t think any of us should be able to question whether some people ... are going into government service for the health insurance,” Freedland said. “And I don’t think any of us have a right to inquire about other people’s personal domestic relationships, whether their domestic partner is the same sex or a different sex, or whether they’re married or not married.”
Reid Magney can be reached at (608) 791-8211 or rmagney@lacrossetribune.com.
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