Jacksonville’s City Council is addressing a $23 million deficit in its employee health care fund, according to former City Council President Ron Salem.

“We are self-insured within the city. So we pay our own claims, and we collect premiums to hopefully cover that,” Salem explained.

“The difference between what we are paying out in health care claims and what we’re collecting in premiums from our employees is $23 million this year.”

The health care trust fund, which had $40 million a few years ago, is now in the negative. To combat this, the council approved hiring the Bailey Group, a consulting firm specializing in health care cost management.

“We had our first meeting with the Bailey Group last week. They are beginning a process of examining claims and will make recommendations to our

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