Roosevelt County insurance rate hike $245k over 3 years

Roosevelt County will pay about $245,000 more for insurance over the next three years, County Manager Amber Hamilton told commissioners on Tuesday.

The county currently pays $720,350 annually to the New Mexico County Insurance Authority pool for property, workers compensation and law enforcement liability, Hamilton said.

New Mexico counties are self insured through the pool.

Hamilton, who serves on the NMCIA board of directors, said the insurance market is challenging across the state.

“It is just difficult,” Hamilton said. “We cannot find people that want to provide … for our law enforcement, specifically. They’re leaving New Mexico, those coverages.”

Hamilton recommended commissioners use the county’s cash reserves and pay all $245,000 of the increase this year, though they have the option of spreading out payments over three years.

Commissioners took no action but planned to discuss the issue again soon.