Ohio Workers’ Comp Rates for Local Governments Declining

Ohio public employers applauded an average 9.1 percent reduction in workers’ compensation rates for local governments that was approved by the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) Board of Directors.

The new rates covering 3,800 cities, counties, townships, villages, schools and special districts will be effective Jan. 1, 2015. This rate reduction, combined with decreases implemented in each of the past four years, will result in a total decrease to local government rates of nearly 20 percent since 2011.

The decrease represents a reduction to the average of the collectible rates for public employer taxing districts covered by the BWC. Actual premium changes for individual public entities will differ based on several factors including their manual classification (the exact type of public entity), as well as their own recent claims history and program participation.

Reductions are expected for all 13 classifications associated with public employer taxing districts. The base rate for cities will decrease by an overall 13.9 percent while the county base rate will decrease by an overall 9.7 percent. The largest overall decrease is in the Volunteer/EMS classification at 22.4 percent. The board will vote on the reductions in each category in November.

Separately, public employers are receiving a total of $126 million in rebates through BWC’s Another Billion Back program that is returning $1 billion to eligible Ohio businesses and public employers. That brings public employer rebates to a two-year total of more than $250 million.

Source: Ohio BWC