Wellness program has nominal cost

Rumors the city of McMinnville spent $1,600 for city employees to take advantage of a city wellness program are not true. The rumors began despite the insistence of city officials they?ve cut the budget to the bare bones.

According to city recorder Shirley Durham, the city spent a whopping $90 out of the general fund in the last fiscal period from July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006 for the program.

The wellness program began several years ago under past elected officials in an effort to reduce the health costs incurred by the city on behalf of employees. The program allows full-time department employees to attend a local gym with the city paying a maximum of $15 per month per employee and only if the employee attends the gym at least 10 times per month.

Currently, most city employees are taking advantage of McMinnville Civic Center?s wellness center, which was established by the Parks and Recreation Department. Because it is a city-run department, all city employees can use the facility for free.

However, five city employees out of 160 are using the incentive to work out at another facility. Three of the employees are from the water department. Because that department is self-funding, the $390 spent over the last fiscal year for those employees comes from the department itself. The money for the other two employees comes from taxpayer dollars, which has cost the city $90.

According to Durham, elected officials once considered discontinuing the program. But with the cost to the city minimal, the decision was made to continue the program.