Cabell County to recoup missed spousal health surcharges through $25 payroll deductions

County Clerk Karen Cole told the Cabell County Commission on Aug. 25 that paperwork related to the spousal surcharge for employee health coverage was not received by her payroll office until July 25, 2016, resulting in missed deductions for the July 30 payroll run and one CCEMS pay period.

Cole said some employees never returned the required form and that the spreadsheet she received contained conflicting entries about employees’ spouse eligibility. She accepted responsibility for the delay in receiving the paperwork and asked the commission how to collect the missed fees. County Attorney William Watson recommended collecting the amounts in installments rather than taking a single lump sum from employees.

Commissioner Nancy Cartmill moved — and Commissioner Robert L. Bailey seconded — a motion to collect missed spousal-surcharge fees in $25 deductions from payroll until each employee’s total owed amount is recovered; the motion passed unanimously. Assistant County Administrator April Tooley clarified that the approach would involve four $25 payroll deductions for employees who had not paid the initial fee; the total amount owed per employee was not specified in the meeting record. Cole said she will provide the commission with a list of employees who need to submit the spousal-surcharge form and will work with the payroll clerk to reconcile conflicting entries.

Cole also warned she may lack the staff and budget to operate a satellite early-voting precinct without additional funds or personnel; commissioners said they would discuss options with her to try to preserve satellite voting services.

The commission’s motion to collect the missed fees passed unanimously; the record does not specify total dollars owed or the identities of affected employees.