Jackson County committee holds CBIZ insurance-broker contract after staff flags irregularities

The Jackson County Finance and Audit Committee on Wednesday voted to hold a proposed 12-month term-and-supply contract with two 12-month extension options for CBIZ Benefits and Insurance Inc., after staff presented concerns about the contract’s procurement history and payment records.

Committee staff member Mr. Thomas told the panel he had identified what he described as irregularities dating to 2022, including language in earlier documents saying the broker’s fee would be paid by the county’s insurance providers in 2022 but paid from county budgeted funds in 2023 and 2024. Thomas and other committee members said packet documents show a purchase order for $90,000 and additional 2024 payments that appear outside the scope identified in the original resolution.

Matt Kroll, the CBIZ representative who appeared at the meeting, said the firm can meet the county’s timeline for open enrollment and noted the county recently moved to a self-funded plan. “With a plan the size of Jackson County’s, typically, we have all that renewal information already wrapped up right now,” Kroll said.

Members also raised procurement concerns: fewer bidders this year compared with last year, differences in scopes that made direct low-bid comparisons difficult, and at least one payment in the vendor’s purchase-order history described as property-and-casualty work that committee members said did not appear covered by the legislative authorization.

The committee asked County legal staff to review whether the 2022–24 documents were properly drafted and whether procurement rules permit amending or replacing the pending resolution at this stage. County legal (Ms. Miller) said she would review the materials and advised she and administration would “be happy to take a look” and work with the county auditor and county counselor to clarify the term-of-supply characterization and payment history.

After discussion about the time sensitivity posed by open enrollment deadlines, a motion was made and seconded to hold the resolution so the full legislature could receive the additional information. Jaylen voted no, Mr. Anderson voted no, and the committee chair voted yes; the motion to hold carried and the contract award was not advanced out of committee.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance 59-96 (establishing fair property tax practices and related appeal/payment provisions): held without objection by the committee. (No legislative vote taken.)

- Resolution awarding 12-month term-and-supply contract with up to two 12-month options to extend to CBIZ Benefits and Insurance Inc., cost not to exceed $250,000: motion to hold passed (chair yes; Jaylen no; Mr. Anderson no). Outcome: held pending further review.

- Resolution 22018 (declaring county vehicles surplus and authorizing disposal under Jackson County Code chapter 11): held without objection.

The committee directed county legal and administration to provide the requested procurement, purchase-order and payment documentation to committee members before the legislature’s full session. No final contractual or legislative action was taken during the meeting.