MOOSE JAW - Since 2018, the City of Moose Jaw has paid the Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) nearly 300-per-cent more in premiums, with the Moose Jaw Police Service having some of the highest claim costs.
In 2018, the WCB charged the municipality $1.19 per $100 of salary for the industry rate, while it offered a 24-cent discount and a net firm rate of 95 cents, a recent city council report said. All these factors led to the City of Moose Jaw paying $232,260.60 in net premiums.
In 2023, the WCB charged the city $1.55 per $100 of salary for the industry rate and offered a two-cent discount and a net firm rate of $1.53, which resulted in the city paying $446,685.04 in net premiums.
This year, the board has charged the municipality $1.66 per $100 of salary for the industry rate and charged a 45-cent surcharge and a net firm rate of $2.11, resulting in an estimated expense to the city of $629,521.50 in net premiums.
If that premium holds until Dec. 31, the City of Moose Jaw’s net premiums since 2018 may increase by $397,260.90 or 271 per cent.
The discount or surcharge that the WCB offers or imposes is based on an organization’s average costs and claims over a three-year period, TJ Karwandy, director of human resources, explained to the Moose Jaw Express. So, if premiums exceed costs, an organization receives a discount, while it receives a surcharge if costs exceed premiums.
Meanwhile, the premium number is a WCB estimate based on the city’s payroll — provided at the start of the year — so the actual amount may differ by the end of 2024 based on what the total payroll is, he continued.
Karwandy acknowledged that the city’s premiums have risen by 271 per cent since 2018, although he pointed out that such numbers have been rising across all forms of insurance recently.
Karwandy’s report to council also included total claims that the City of Moose Jaw made to WCB.
In 2018, there were 39 claims, with 10 resulting in lost-time days and 29 resulting in no lost-time days; those 10 people missed a combined 368 days of work.
In 2023, there were 25 claims, seven of which resulted in lost-time days and 18 of which resulted in no lost-time days; those seven people missed a combined 683 days of work.
The report also provided a table showing the costs that the WCB incurred between 2020 and 2023 to cover the claims from the City of Moose Jaw.
In 2020, the WCB paid out $237,031.64 in total costs incurred by the city and police service, including:
- $75,766.64 in total costs to the municipality based on 25 total claims, 12 lost-time days, 13 no lost-time days, and 231 total days lost
- $161,265.50 in total costs to the police service based on 11 total claims, four lost-time days, seven no lost-time days, and 337 total days lost
In 2023, the WCB paid out $324,421.91 in total costs incurred between the city and police service, including:
- $159,390.06 in total costs to the municipality based on 15 total claims, five lost-time days, 10 no lost-time days, and 422 total days lost
- $165,031.85 in total costs to the police service based on 10 claims, including two lost-time days, eight no lost-time days, and 261 total days lost
Karwandy added that when WCB covers costs, it usually reimburses the organizations for things like medical appointments, coverage, treatments or days lost.
