Medical insurance premiums for Nebo employees will increase 7.6 percent.

The district will pay the entire increase for teachers. Classified employees and administrators pay a percentage of the premiums from their own pockets.

"They chose (that) a couple years ago to get an extra percentage on the base. The teachers decided not to," Mosher said.

Alpine employees will receive 2.7 percent raise for cost-of-living and steps and lanes. Medical insurance premiums increased about 12 percent, with the district paying the entire increase for teachers and part of it for classified employees and administrators, said John Spencer, Alpine's administrator for human resources.

Nebo has never offered a Medigap-type benefit for its employees, and Alpine eliminated the benefit in 1995. Employees hired after 1995 do not qualify for it, Spencer said.

Before negotiations halted in the spring, both the district and the Provo Education Association agreed to 1.5 percent increase in steps and lanes pay raises. The district offered 0.5 percent increase in cost-of-living; PEA wanted 2 percent.

Medical insurance premiums will increase 22.9 percent because of high prescription drug usage and emergency room visits among Provo district employees, district officials said. The district also wants to start a premium participation plan. PEA officials have suggested eliminating certain medical procedures from the insurance to reduce the increase to 20 percent, with the district paying the entire increase.

---

E-mail: lhancock@desnews.com