“We’re kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place with this, because if we endorse, we say we’re happy with a 9 percent increase,” Vice President Ben Dibble said. “If we don’t endorse we’re saying we’re happy with 15 (percent).”
Dibble said he would write a letter on behalf of the board expressing its discontent that employee cost increases weren’t aggressive enough.
Member Paul Lohr said he disagreed with the way the trustees increased rates by 1 percent a year ago and 12 percent this year. Then, when told to keep costs below 10 percent, he said they hit that mark without going further.
“What if they said get it below 6? Would it be 5 percent?” he said.
Member Lynda O’Connor said the packages are generous and increases in co-pays and dedubtibles don’t go deep enough. She and Lohr cast the no votes with Dibble voting yes and Powell abstaining.
“They’re neither one acceptable to me,” Powell said. “This is like being in mud or deeper mud. This is a no win proposition. We weren’t asked for any input.”
The Lakota Support Staff Association did not endorse the plan, but the Lakota Education Association did.
“I’m just a little curious about why this is coming up at this point and why there wasn’t earlier discussion about this especially since our own treasurer sits as one of the trustees,” said LEA President Judy Buschle.
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