By SUZANNE MARINO
Staff Writer
MARGATE – At City Hall here, they are looking in all the nooks and crannies trying to find money to offset taxes, and that search is reaping green for residents.
Lisa Harbright, management specialist for the city, has a nose for finding where money could be put to better use. Over the last month she has reported weekly to the city commissioners with suggestions that are saving residents money. One area in which the city has been able to reduce expenses without reducing coverage is with workers compensation.
“We have been a part of the JIF (Joint Insurance Fund) for three years, and they are big on seminars and training to cut down on workers compensation and lost-time accidents, and it has worked well for our employees,” said Harbright.
“Though the city will not see a dividend from the JIF until 2008, our loss ratio is low, and there will be an overall savings to the city.”
Margate began billing for ambulance transports in November 2005, and with a year under its belt, the city looks to bring in $190,000.
“We are at $168,000 through November, so we should easily reach that target,” said Harbright.
“Our billing agent, DM Medical Billing Inc., has decreased the amount they are charging the city. I think we are pretty easy to work with, and possibly they feel they can reduce our rate because of that.”
Another reduction to the city came from the risk management consultant for the city, Dave Miller, who cut his fee from six percent in 2005, five percent this year and down to 4.5 percent in 2007.
“That decrease will result in a savings of more than $9,000 to the city,” Harbright said.
According to the management specialist, it is hard to keep insurance costs down due to contractual obligations, so when the city manages to find a way to recoup some of its costs, it is a boon to residents. TOP
