Twin Falls County Faces Higher Insurance Costs After Lawsuits

TWIN FALLS, Idaho (AP) — Twin Falls County's insurance premiums have gone up due to lawsuit settlements paid by Idaho Counties Risk Management Program.

The Times-News reports that the county's insurance payments have increased 58 percent over the past five years from $350,639 for the 2012 fiscal year to $553,114 for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1.

The increase comes after the Risk Management Program paid $1.35 million to settle lawsuits against Twin Falls County between 2012 and 2015, most recently settling a gender-related harassment and discrimination lawsuit. Most of the lawsuits pertained to allegations of inmates' mistreatment in jail.

Twin Falls County Commissioner Leon Mills says the premiums have increased so dramatically because of the settlements. He says the program pays settlements and then adjusts premiums to recoup the costs..