Editorial: Return unused health millage

The move to cut the health services millage in Ingham County this week is a responsible decision made by elected officials who are working for the people they represent.

The Human Services Committee of the Ingham County Board of Commissioners took the first steps by voting to reduce the millage by approximately one-third, from 0.52 of a mill to 0.35 of a mill. The board’s Finance Committee supported the change and the full board is scheduled to consider the matter at its Oct. 27 meeting.

We encourage them to pass the reduction, reducing the tax burden on Ingham County residents going forward. The change would take effect on Jan. 1.

This could save taxpayers approximately $1.1 million annually.

That demonstrates solid decision-making on the part of county commissioners amidst reports that the millage had generated a surplus of $10 million even as health care reimbursements dropped.

Designed to generate $3.5 million per year for some of Ingham County’s neediest residents to receive health care through the Ingham Health Plan, the millage started to show a surplus as more residents began to qualify for Medicaid and Medicare or were able to sign up for health coverage under the federal Affordable Care Act.

At its peak, IHP covered some 10,000 needy residents. In June, Ingham County Board Chairman Brian McGrain wrote that number was down to 1,000.

As the governing body responsible for the millage, first passed by voters in 2012 and renewed in 2014, the onus is on the Board of Commissioners to monitor and report the use of funds.

The $10 million surplus raised legitimate concerns. So did discussions last summer when the county board considered allocating some of the funds for mental health care or to refurbish a building as a community health center.

The size of the surplus and plans to divert it caused the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce to call for reduction or elimination of the health care millage.

Last month, the county board voted to limit the amount of millage money going to the IHP to just $1 million per year, although that nonprofit corporation still controls the surplus. The county board also set a 10% cap on IHP’s administrative costs.

Good decision-making builds trust in local government. Elected officials are selected by the people for exactly this purpose.

The Board of Commissioners has made a responsible decision. Now, they must see it through to conclusion.

— An LSJ Editorial