A county in Southern Georgia plans to leave a governmental pool and buy workers’ compensation coverage from a private carrier, a move projected to save at least $20,000, according to a report by the Thomasville Times-Enterprise.

Buddy Johnson

Grady County commissioners on Nov. 5 voted to notify the Association County Commissioners of Georgia that it will secure comp coverage through Southern Insurance, a carrier headquartered in the county.

The Association County Commissioners of Georgia offers workers’ compensation coverage to counties and other governmental entities through the Group Self-Insurance Workers’ Compensation Fund.

County Administrator Buddy Johnson said costs through ACCG are expected to increase in 2020, but the offer Southern Insurance made would result in costs that are close to what the county was anticipating, according to the Times-Enterprise report.

Johnson reportedly said the county should save at least $20,000 by leaving ACCG.

“This is a good opportunity for us to utilize a local company, save a little bit of money and at the same time get ACCG back to start competing a little bit more on these things,” Johnson said.

The county has 40 to 50 work comp claims per year, but most are for minor injuries such as cuts and sprains, according to Johnson.