Voters Support Petition to End Health Care Benefits for Some Part-Time City Officials

North Canton residents turned out to the polls Tuesday to support an initiative petition that would end health care benefits for some part-time city officials.

Unofficial results from the Stark County Board of Elections had the initiative ahead with a vote of 6,302 to 2,464 Tuesday night.

The proposed ordinance aims to end city-paid health insurance for family members of part-time elected officials and limit city-paid health insurance benefits for individual part-time elected officials.

It could save the city as much as $111,000 a year in health care premium and administrative costs.

"I'm very satisfied," said Chuck Osborne, who petitioned for the initiative. "I'm glad the citizens of North Canton realize the value of this and have chosen to pass this, which will greatly benefit them."

Osborne had written a letter to the editor in May after gathering the required signatures to get the initiative petition on the ballot, saying the following:

The City of North Canton has four Ward Councilmembers, three at-Large Councilmembers and a Mayor who all serve as part-time elected officials. These eight individuals attend four meetings per month that last approximately two hours each. In addition to a salary, North Canton’s part-time elected officials receive city-paid health insurance for themselves and their families. The only other community in all of Stark County which provides health care for part-time elected officials is the City of Canton.

City Finance Director Karen Alger said out of eight elected officials, six have health insurance through the city and two do not.