HomeMy Public PortalAbout2022.06.30 APRA funds letter to Governor Little 1"
216 East Park Street
City 011 McCall McCall, Idaho 83638
- Phone 208-634-7142
www.mccall.id.us Fax 208-634-3038
June 30,2022
The Honorable Brad Little
i
Office of the Governor
State Capitol
PO Box 83720
Boise,ID 83720
RE: COVID Funds for III-A Trust
Dear Governor Little,
On behalf of City of McCall, we seek your support to include one-time federal COVID/ARPA funds to III-A
Trust for COVID related costs/medical treatment in the State of Idaho's 2023 budget.
For your background, III-A Trust is a health insurance trust created by public agencies. III-A Trust's mission
is to provide the best health coverage at the lowest rates for our local governments so those savings may be
passed back to the taxpayers.
Our members include fire and EMS districts, police departments, highway districts, irrigation districts, cities,
and sewer and water districts—most of whom did not receive federal or state funds for COVID medical costs.
Our public employees continued to serve Idaho citizens throughout the pandemic. The State of Idaho health
plan, counties and cities received some assistance. However, most First Responders and special districts fell
through the cracks and have no access to these funds. We believe the federal COVID funds are intended to
help Idaho First Responders and other essential public workers that continue to be hit the hardest.
COVID-related medical expenses are entirely responsible for the significant rate increase our members will
incur— we estimate a 12.8% medical rate increase per our actuarial report directly as a result of paying for
COVID medical services/programs. These costs will fall directly on Idaho taxpayers in the form of property
tax increases or extracted as payroll deductions from public employees.
COVID expenses incurred by III-A Trust:
Total COVID Spend: $4,270,409
CFAC Reimbursement 12/2020: $782,500
Remaining Reimbursement Request: $3,487,909
As public employees of a local government agency, we request your support and assistance to use federal
funds intended for COVID relief to offset these costs.
We sincerely appreciate your help.
Best Regards,
Robert S. Giles,Mayor