As the commission gears up to work on the 2016 budget, one expense it will have to factor in won’t be as high as it has in the past — insurance costs.

According to commissioner Bill Pratt the premium increase of the CEBCO policy for county employees is expected to be at 3 percent.

“That is fantastic,” Pratt said.

Two years ago the county switched from United Health to CEBCO making a required three-year commitment.

At that time the premium increase was anticipated to be 5 to 6 percent annually.

CEBCO or County Employee Benefits Consortium of Ohio was started in 2004 by the County Commissioners Association of Ohio. Lawrence was the 29th county in the state to join the consortium.

There are a total of 286 employees. Under the CEBCO umbrella there are a variety of policies from single to employee with child, employee with spouse and family.

Premiums for combined employee and county parts rang from $820.88 and $844.09 a year for single plans to $1,475.11 and $1516.82 for employee with child to $1,808.40 and $1,859.51 for employee with spouse to $2,462.63 and $2,532.25 for family. That is a total of $434,102.52 in premiums.

The county’s share of the premiums depends on the employee’s department.

“That was best decision we ever made,” Pratt said.