Two Bethel Twp. trustees and the fiscal officer have volunteered to pay a percentage of their health insurance to save general fund money, while one trustee is researching his coverage options before committing to paying part of the costs.

Trustees approved a resolution late last year requiring the township’s three employees to pay 10 percent of their own health insurance premiums.

But the Ohio Revised Code dictates elected officials can’t vote to change their pay or benefits mid-term, but they can voluntarily return it, Fiscal Office Melanie Cochran said, citing advice from the Clark County Prosecutor’s Office.

So at a meeting this month, Trustees David Phares and Nancy Brown and Cochran disclosed that they decided to refund the township 10 percent of their coverage costs.

“It’s only fair to do that. If we were going to do that for the employees, I definitely felt like I wanted to do it,” Cochran said. “We want to do what’s best for the township.”

Meanwhile Trustee David Finfrock opted to keep his premiums fully paid for by the township until he firmed up other forms of coverage, he said Friday. Finfrock said his plan was to make sure he and his wife are covered by other programs, then starting in April he intends to refund the township 100 percent of his premium costs.

“I believe that I can get all my insurance covered,” he said. “In about 60 days I will turn 65 and I will have Medicare, Medicare part B and VA.”

He said he chose not to say anything at the last meeting because he wanted to make sure he was covered.

With the one employee and the three elected officials who are payed from the general fund, 10 percent insurance contributions from each saves about $9,000 each year, according to Cochran. Two employees are paid out of the road fund and that fund is expected to save about $4,500 annually.

But that won’t cover a projected general fund shortfall within two or three years, Trustee President Nancy Brown said Friday.

Because the township is one of a few that doesn’t receive levy dollars for its general fund, it had to find ways to save money, Cochran said. It’s also taken a hit from traditional revenue streams like from the Local Government Fund from the state.

Bethel Twp. residents rejected an additional 1.5 mills for current expenses in November last year. It’s not likely trustees will request new millage in spring because it doesn’t want to compete with Tecumseh school district’s levy, Brown said.

It’s working with state legislators to find ways to regain revenue streams to its general fund, Brown said.

The purpose for public discussion of the trustees premium costs this month was record keeping, Cochran said, and to leave a paper trail for auditors.