SHERIDAN COUNTY - Sheridan County employees will be required to start contributing to their health insurance coverage as officials prepare for a budget shortfall next year.

The County Commissioners approved the plan Tuesday and the change affecting 396 workers will take effect immediately. Single employees will pay $51.35, while workers including their children in their plan will pay $114.05. Employees choosing coverage for their entire family will pay $156.29.

County Administrator Renee Obermueller says the change came after a year of discussions and after officials conducted research and price comparisons and realized they had "been quite generous" in the past.

Obermueller says the employee contributions are 12 percent of the premium's totals.