Flathead County used $23,850 of a $402,000 insurance refund to give 477 county employees a $50 year-end bonus.

The county received the refund in June as a return on the county’s effective risk-management program and safety record.

Three years ago the county broke away from the insurance pool operated by the Montana Association of Counties and chose instead to be insured by Liberty Northwest, the regional carrier for parent company Liberty Mutual.

State law allows local governing bodies to develop employee incentive award programs, but sets a $50 limit. In August the county commissioners passed a resolution that gives them the authority to share a portion of the returned premiums with county employees when effective safety policies are followed.

No direct taxpayer dollars were used for the bonuses, County Administrative Officer Mike Pence said.

“It’s an incentive. We’re not committed to keep doing it,” he said, adding that this year the county has the potential to get a refund of nearly $300,000.

There were eligibility requirements to get the $50 bonus, County Human Resource Officer Raeann Campbell said. Employees had to have worked at least 1,040 hours prior to the insurance coverage term that began Nov. 1.

Some of the refund money was put into a reserve fund for future years in case the county “has a bad year” and has to pay more in insurance premiums. A portion of the refund was used to reimburse the Sheriff’s Office for money used to pay additional premiums during a past year.

County employees also were treated to a holiday party for the first time this year, but no taxpayer money was used for the celebration held recently at the county fairgrounds, Pence said. Robin Boon of Western States Insurance, the agent for Flathead County, contributed to the party, as did various county elected officials and managers.

The party was well-received, Pence said, with about 250 employees attending.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by e-mail at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com