Once the Lawrence County Commissioners know what the insurance premium for 2014 will be they expect to start work on a new budget.

“That is the first piece of our budget puzzle for next year,” Commission President Bill Pratt said.

Originally the county was facing a possible 30 percent hike in its insurance premium with United Health because of a high number of claims, including 11 costing more than $1 million.

That prompted commissioner Les Boggs to ask for quotes from two other carriers, CEBCO and Central States.

“I think it is important for the taxpayers that we shop around for the best value and we anticipate the insurance rate of our current carrier going up significantly,” Boggs said at a September commission meeting. “We owe it to our employees and the taxpayers to get the best value.”

However, United’s rate may only come in around 12 to 14 percent more than the current premium, Pratt said. The carrier has yet to present an official quote to the commission.

CEBCO, formed by the County Commissioners Association of Ohio, presented a quote that is 10 to 12 percent higher than the current premium.

“Central States was significantly lower,” Pratt said. “It is apples and oranges. We need to match up the different coverages. Normally we decide this on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving so employees would have over the weekend to discuss it and what plan they want. We will take a couple of weeks to make sure we have everything ironed out.”

Despite the large claims with United earlier in the year, the claims ratio decreased later on.

“It is not nearly as discouraging as it was initially,” Pratt said. “We have some good options.”

Although United has yet to submit a quote, Pratt said the company asked if 12 percent would be too high.

“We will take long enough to get our questions answered,” the commissioner said about the time frame for choosing a carrier.

So far budget requests have been received from Clerk of Courts Mike Patterson, Veterans Service Officer Jack Welz, Lawrence County Sheriff Jeff Lawless and the Lawrence County EMS.

Welz’ budget is determined by statute and is based on what a half mill would bring in against the assessed valuation of county. However, a budget still must be presented to the commission. This year that budget was $395,794.

The EMS presented two budgets — one with $1 million from the county and the other with a $1.3 million supplement.

“We will start to create a skeleton budget, which are the things that will be the same regardless,” Pratt said. “We can build in those pieces, then take the court-ordered budgets from the judges. Build that in and then see what is left in the general fund.”

Having a budget in place by the first part of December is Pratt’s goal. On Tuesday the Budget Commission meets. On its agenda is the possible certification of revenue for 2014.