WBRZ - Baton Rouge

The East Baton Rouge Metro Council approved increasing the cost of health insurance for city-parish workers on Wednesday night.

A $5 million deficit in the health care budget for the city-parish forced the decision. Had members left 2010's plan in place, the city-parish would instead face a $9 million shortfall and likely layoffs.

Council was told the city's many reserve funds weren't enough to fix the issue now or in the longterm. Some workers and union members pleaded for the council to keep health care affordable but said they didn't want anyone to lose their jobs because of it.

Nine council members voted for the new plan. Denise Marcelle voted against it, and two other members abstained from the decision.