Manning City Council is looking to hold second reading on an ordinance that would provide health insurance to council members starting in 2018.
"The state insurance allows city council to have insurance and retirement benefits as they are treated as full-time employees," said Manning Administrator Scott Tanner. "With that said, we have to modify our orginance to allow the city to offer this to them and paying the employer portion of it."
Tanner said the ordinance is written to not take effect until after the next election in April 2018.
"With falling under council compensation, they are allowed to vote, but whatever they decide may only take effect after the next council is elected," Tanner said.
Tanner said that the change is simply because council members must be treated as full-time employees.
"I think it's always been this way, but the city has not had the ordinance like it needed to," Tanner said.
He noted that "most of our council members have insurance through their employers."
"I don't know how many council members will be interested in the insurance and benefits; we would find out during enrollment after the next election," Tanner said. "After the election in 2018, they can take advantage of the next health plan if they want."
Tanner said council has the authority to approve the change by ordinance. He said no public hearing will be held.
"Again, the only limitation is that it can't go into effect until the next election," he said.
As the change would be two years away, if passed, Tanner said no figures are available for how it would affect the city's budget.
"It's two years away and it would depend on how many take advantage of it," he said.
State law does allow public officials to vote on their own compensation rates. The South Carolina House of Representatives overrode a veto from Gov. Nikki Haley after House members approved a $12,000-a-year raise for legislators.
Supporters said the pay raise -- a $1,000-a-month increase in legislative expenses -- was justified to pay the higher cost of gas as lawmakers travel around their more populous legislative districts, The State's Cassie Cope reported at the time.
The raise would not have went into effect until those running in 2016 elections were sworn in for new terms in 2017. However, the state Senate rejected the veto by a substantial majority.
During Monday's meeting, council members will also look at the city's 2016-17 fiscal year budget and present a Key to the City to Clarendon County Coroner Hayes F. Samuels.
City Council will meet 6:30 p.m. Monday at City Hall. A Utility Fund Budget Workshop will precede the regular meeting at 5:30 p.m.
