MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
Reno County Approves 2026 Insurance Package With More Than $100,000 Increase
Reno County will see a significant rise in its insurance costs next year after commissioners on Wednesday approved a 2026 coverage proposal presented by Fee Insurance Group. The package, which includes property, auto, equipment, liability, cybersecurity, and umbrella insurance, represents a 12.4 percent increase over the county’s 2025 premiums.
The total cost for 2025 was $828,042. Under the new plan with Travelers, premiums will rise by more than $100,000, driven largely by increased property valuations, inflation, and rising litigation trends nationwide. Fee Insurance Group President Bob Fee told commissioners that the county’s insured property values grew from $83.1 million to $87.1 million, pushing up the cost of blanket property coverage.
Liability costs also increased, reflecting what Fee described as a national surge in lawsuit demands. While most categories saw increases, cybersecurity and crime insurance dropped slightly from $24,546 to $24,143.
Fee also reported the county’s loss ratios over the past three years. From 2023 to 2025, Reno County received 51 cents in claims for every dollar spent on insurance—comfortably within the industry’s ideal 65 percent break-even range. However, auto and general liability policies ran much higher, with 89 cents and $1.38 in claims, respectively, for every dollar paid in premiums.
The approved premiums for 2026 include:
- Property: $298,365 (up $37,408)
- Liability: $293,988 (up $27,973)
- Auto: $267,788 (up $33,280)
- Equipment: $25,703 (up $1,175)
- Cybersecurity & Crime: $24,143 (down $403)
- Umbrella: $20,361 (up $2,873)
Commissioners also rejected an optional auto policy that would have saved $35,377 by increasing deductibles to $10,000 per vehicle. Commissioner Ron Hirst cautioned that “one hailstorm would just wreck that,” given the county’s fleet of about 200 vehicles.
Commissioner Ron Vincent asked whether the county considered other insurers or agencies. Fee said few carriers cover public entities the size of Reno County, and Commissioner Randy Parks noted that a review last year found Fee Insurance Group’s commission competitive.
In other commission actions, commissioners also approved $55,000 from the county’s share of the national opioid settlement to support the United Way of Reno County’s Reno Connections program. Commissioner Ron Hirst asked about the program’s reach outside Hutchinson and Reno County/City of Hutchinson Opioid Settlements Funds Advisory Oversight Committee member Candace Davidson noted the program does serve Buhler. County Counselor Patrick Hoffman said broader community reach can be evaluated in future applications.
The request from the Reno County/City of Hutchinson Opioid Settlements Funds Advisory Oversight Committee were submitted after receiving seven applications to their RFP, of which just two were accepted.
Those two applications, the one from United Way of Reno County’s Reno Connections and the second, from the Rise Up Reno Prevention Network for their "Calling All Parents, Talk They Need You" program were accepted.
The total request for funding is $69,300. However because Reno County has more funding than the City of Hutchinson they asked the City of Hutchinson to fund Rise Up Reno Prevention’s networks request for $14,300, which city commissioners approved on Tuesday evening.
The board also approved annual Department of Aging funding to several local agencies that support seniors, including:
- Umbrella: $20,361 (up $2,873)
- First Call for Help: $27,558
- Interfaith Housing & Community Services: $26,558
- Hutchinson Meals on Wheels: $13,116
The Reno County Board of County Commissioners will meet again on Dec. 17 at 9 a.m.