On Thursday, Douglas County lost one of its brightest lights to Senate Bill 544, which cuts nonstate public employees off the state's health insurance.
Barbara Griffin has worked in public service for 35 years. She was first elected clerk-treasurer in 1986, making her one of the longest serving elected officials in the county.
When the state offered subsidized healthcare to nonstate public employees, small counties and school districts jumped at the chance to offer their employees better service through the Public Employee Benefit Program.
Griffin made no bones about the health insurance issue being responsible for her decision.
"I cannot jeopardize my medical coverage or bet my future on undetermined possible alternatives," she wrote in her resignation letter.
The reason's simple. Under the state program, retiring teacher Randy Green reported he would pay $47 a month for insurance. If he waited another year, his rates could be $662. That's a big incentive to retire.
An estimated 60 employees are leaving county service because of the state insurance issue, but that number does not accurately reflect the damage it has done in Douglas and many other Nevada counties.
The people who are leaving are our most experienced public servants. The worst thing is there is nothing that can be done to prevent it. Even if the Legislature chose to repeal the law removing the health insurance, the damage has been done.
Fortunately, there has been time for those experienced workers to prepare their replacements. That and our sincere thanks will be the legacy they leave.
