NORWICH – Government workers who participate in Chenango County’s health care benefit plan will be asked to contribute 24 percent more for coverage next year.

The projected local share paid by taxpayers for the $7.5 million hospitalization plan would increase by the same percentage, and collect $5.6 million, or $1 million more than last year.

“The employees aren’t going to like this, but they need to know that they are going to be paying more and the people who pay taxes are going to be paying more, too,” said Coventry Supervisor John Phelan, a member of the Chenango County Personnel Committee. The group of lawmakers learned next year’s projected health benefit costs in a recent budget report from Chenango County Self Insurance Administrator R.C. Woodford.

Non-union employees currently pay $76 a month for individual care coverage and $1 for dental, or $240 for family health; $11 for dental. Civil Service Employees Association workers (one of four bargaining units that represent county workers), for example, currently pay $72 a month for individual coverage and $1 for dental, or $230 for family health; $11 for dental.