Members of Grey Highlands council were concerned at Monday morning's meeting about a letter from the municipality's employee benefits provider that a five-per-cent cost increase was coming in the future.

Grey Highlands is a member of a countywide health and dental benefit plan through Mosey and Mosey Benefit Plan Consultants. In a letter to council on Monday's agenda council was informed that if current claim levels continue throughout the rest of the year the municipality will be looking at a $5,600 cost increase or five per cent.

The letter informed council that health coverage claims are up significantly, while dental claims are down. When the two are combined the costs will still increase for Grey Highlands when the policy year ends at the end of September.

Grey Highlands CAO Kelley Coulter told council she was preparing a report on the benefits issue that will come to council in the near future.

"I'm concerned that at midyear they're proposing an increase of five per cent," said Coulter. "My concerns will be communicated back to them that we want corrective measures be put in place to mitigate these issues," said the CAO.

Mayor Brian Mullin wondered what options were available for the municipality to control costs in its benefits program.

"Do we have any flexibility? Can we get a better bang for our buck?" Mullin asked Coulter.

CAO Coulter said she would present a full report in the near future that deals with the matter.