By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Barton Community College President Dr. Carl Heilman said there are always different challenges when preparing the upcoming budget for the college. One challenge that stands out this year is the college’s insurance provider.
Barton saw a significant increase in their insurance cost to protect their property last year and decided to shop for new providers this past December. Vice President of Administration Mark Dean said there were zero takers to insure the college following the hail storm that hit the area last July. The Barton County area was elevated to the “extreme” level for potential wind, hail and tornado-type damage.
Going through the renewal process with their current provider, Dean expected another bump in the college’s annual cost.
"The previous year, we had all of our buildings inspected and reappraised," said Dean. "That's when we saw a 50% increase in our appraisal of all of our facilities. They're going to reappraise them all again this year, but we were already bumped up so high last year that I don't expect there will be major change. We can expect an increase."
Dean said it cost approximately $630,000 to insure all of the college’s property last year, and he expects up to a $125,000 increase when Barton renews this summer. While prices may go up, Dean was confident the college could keep renewing with the current provider.
"If the provider comes forward with recommendations to us and we do what they required, they can never kick us out," said Dean. "That mainly deals with the liability portion of it. If you have HR practices and employee policies that don't control discrimination and sexual harassment. The provider may recommend you fix those things. If you don't fix it, they're going to kick you out."
Dean said approximately half of the insurance rate goes toward property coverage. The rest of the coverage includes cyber, liability and workers compensation.