Finance director said city worker medical insurance had climbed about 48 percent

Finance Director Patty Douylliez told the St. Augustine Beach City Commission on May 4 that medical insurance for city employees had climbed about 48 percent — another benefits charge stacked on the public payroll that residents fund every budget cycle. She said neighboring governments saw similar jumps, with the county and the City of St. Augustine both over 40 percent.

She also flagged large increases in the city’s property, auto, and liability insurance and said bulk fuel had moved from $2.48 in October to $3.79. Property values kept climbing while some state-shared sales-tax money slipped.

That is household tax money underwriting a bigger benefits overhead before any property-tax (millage) debate.

The long-range plan was presented as a planning tool; no property-tax rate or benefits vote was taken.