As politicians, the Democratic members of the Wilmington, Del., City Council were early and enthusiastic supporters of Obamacare.
As employers, they are suffering from sticker shock after learning Obamacare for one employee could cost as much as $17,500 per year.
“We could potentially add 40 to 50 employees to the city’s health care plan,” said Samuel D. Pratcher, head of the city’s human resources department. “At a cost of $300,000 to $700,000 a year.”
That ranges from $7,500 to $17,500 per employee per year.
That is not an option for this city of 70,000, officials said.
“Coverage for families is more expensive,” explained Councilman Kevin Kelly.
City leaders want to avoid the extra expense of Obamacare for city employees – many of whom work as school crossing guards and for the city’s park system in the summer – reducing their hours and changing their status to part-time.
“I’m concerned about families getting cut in pay,” said council member Hanifa Shabazz, an Obama delegate to the national convention.
If the city has to reduce the hours of crossing guards, “what do we say to that family if something tragic happens?” said city councilman Mike Brown.
Loretta Walsh, a supporter of Obama who said during the election that Republicans who oppose Obama are racist, was unhappy the human resources department did not notify the unions some of their members were going to be losing hours – and money.
“The unions are not our adversaries,” Walsh said. “We are all in this mess together.”
The staffer from human resources could not answer many of the council questions. But she did know one thing for sure:
“We have to conform to the federal mandate,” she said. “This new ordinance is designed to put us in a position where we don’t have to pay benefits. It is going to be far more costly for us to pick up those health care benefits. We have to make sure we don’t put ourselves in that position.”
The same council members who just weeks before had excoriated private business owners for not paying a living wage were silent.
The news that Obamacare could add $700,000 to the city budget comes one year after the mayor declared city’s revenues were so low and city expenses so high he questioned the city’s ability to survive in five years.