Fulton County commissioners voted 4-1 on Sept. 30 to approve 2027 rates for the county’s Anthem health plans that rise 10% for active employees and retirees under 65 and fall 15% for retirees over 65, according to the Board of Commissioners’ record on Legistar.
Comm. Dana Barrett cast the no vote, and Comm. Bridget Thorne did not vote. Chair Robb Pitts, Vice Chair Khadijah Abdur Rahman and Commissioners Marvin Arrington and Bob Ellis voted yes. Barrett had moved, with Arrington seconding, to approve the county’s Anthem contract renewal “under duress” and to put a request for proposals out for a new benefits provider next year “instead of waiting until 2029,” the record says. It shows no vote taken on that motion.
Ellis then made a substitute motion, seconded by Abdur Rahman, to approve the renewal “as recommended and also to proceed with the RFP that was outlined,” with a friendly amendment from Arrington to ask the County Manager to bring information back to the board on “whether we should do the broader RFP.” That motion passed 4-1, with Barrett voting no and Thorne not voting, and the record lists the renewal as approved as amended [1]. The renewal runs Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2027, at an administrative fee of $45.73 per member per month, and it is the second of four renewal options, with two remaining.
The Finance Department’s summary projects that the Anthem plans will cost $85.4 million in 2027 for 3,813 employees and retirees. Plan members would pay $12.9 million, and the county would pay $72.5 million. The department said it worked with benefits consultant Segal on rates “set to support the expected costs generated by members enrolled in the plans.” The summary says out-of-pocket maximums on the point-of-service plan do not change.
The board’s agenda for its 6 p.m. meeting that day marked the same two items removed.
The 10 a.m. special called meeting also held the first of three public hearings on the county’s 2026 General Fund property tax rate, and the second followed at 6 p.m. The county proposes keeping the rate at 8.87 mills, which it says would be the fifth straight year without a change. Its notice puts the rate without an increase at no more than 8.822 mills and calls the difference a property tax increase of 0.54%, or about $10.56 on a $625,000 home. The third hearing and the final vote on the rate are both scheduled for Oct. 7.