Statement From The Town Of Syracuse Town Council
December 9, 2024 at 12:50 a.m.
Editor, Times-Union:
We are both surprised and extremely disappointed with the State Board of Accounts (SBOA) audit finding that certain reimbursements made to council members for private insurance was inappropriate and needs to be paid back.
For decades, the Town of Syracuse has reimbursed paid insurance premiums to employees and Council members not on the Town’s group health plan. This was done as a cost savings measure and has never been questioned during multiple audits from the SBOA over many years.
In fact, as recently as 2023, the SBOA told the Town on two separate occasions that it saw no problem with the insurance premium reimbursement practice.
Suddenly in November 2024, the Town was surprised to learn for the first time that the SBOA alleged the decades old insurance premium reimbursement practice was not only impermissible but that the SBOA was going to pursue repayment from current and former Town employees and officials.
We maintain that reimbursing health insurance premiums outside the Town group health plan is permissible under state law and it’s clear the State Board of Accounts agreed with this practice for decades prior to their sudden change of opinion roughly a month ago. At this time, we plan to work with our attorneys and explore all legal options.
Syracuse Town Council
via email
Editor, Times-Union:
We are both surprised and extremely disappointed with the State Board of Accounts (SBOA) audit finding that certain reimbursements made to council members for private insurance was inappropriate and needs to be paid back.
For decades, the Town of Syracuse has reimbursed paid insurance premiums to employees and Council members not on the Town’s group health plan. This was done as a cost savings measure and has never been questioned during multiple audits from the SBOA over many years.
In fact, as recently as 2023, the SBOA told the Town on two separate occasions that it saw no problem with the insurance premium reimbursement practice.
Suddenly in November 2024, the Town was surprised to learn for the first time that the SBOA alleged the decades old insurance premium reimbursement practice was not only impermissible but that the SBOA was going to pursue repayment from current and former Town employees and officials.
We maintain that reimbursing health insurance premiums outside the Town group health plan is permissible under state law and it’s clear the State Board of Accounts agreed with this practice for decades prior to their sudden change of opinion roughly a month ago. At this time, we plan to work with our attorneys and explore all legal options.
Syracuse Town Council
via email