Habersham County Approves Higher Insurance Deductible for FY 2026

Habersham County commissioners unanimously approved renewal of the county’s FY 2026 property, vehicle and liability insurance with ACCG-IRMA on June 16, 2025, accepting a higher deductible of $10,000. The action doubles the county’s deductible from $5,000, meaning the county would bear more of the cost of smaller covered losses before insurance coverage applies.

The renewal matters because the deductible sets the county’s immediate financial exposure when property is damaged, vehicles are involved in covered losses, or liability claims arise. A $10,000 deductible can reduce insurance costs, but it also shifts an additional $5,000 of risk per covered claim to county government compared with the prior deductible. The decision establishes the framework for much of Habersham’s insurance protection during the fiscal year.

The June 16 discussion began with a staff presentation on renewing the county’s long-standing ACCG-IRMA coverage. Human Resources Director Ann Cain presented the proposed change, and commissioners questioned elements of the package, including cyber-security coverage. Rather than leaving the proposal unresolved, the commission recorded a motion and second to approve the renewal and deductible increase, followed by a unanimous 5-0 vote.

County staff backed the increased deductible as a cost-saving measure. The meeting minutes say staff projected deductible-related savings of “$41,7278,” though the figure is printed that way and does not clearly establish the intended dollar amount. Commissioners also noted a 7% safety discount, listed as saving $39,679. Their questions about cyber coverage showed concern not only with the price of the renewal, but also with what protections the county would receive.

The insurance renewal and higher deductible were completed commission actions, not merely staff recommendations: the minutes record unanimous approval. The same record says commissioners directed staff to review cyber-security coverage after discussion about whether its coverage level had risen from $25,000. It does not state a final confirmed dollar limit for that cyber-security coverage, so the approval does not resolve that part of the county’s insurance picture.

The next concrete public step is staff’s review of the county’s cyber-security coverage and any follow-up presented to commissioners. What remains unsettled in the public record is the final cyber coverage limit and whether the review will lead to a change in the approved insurance package. Residents can look for a subsequent county action or insurance record identifying the coverage amount and any revised terms.