Carbon County is seeing a decrease in its insurance costs.

The commissioners Thursday voted to renew the 2015-2016 insurance policy with the Pennsylvania Counties Risk Pool. The total premium cost is $226,597. This is a $16,329 decrease from last year.Commissioner William O'Gurek said the board is happy about the decrease."This is the third year in a row that we have a decrease in our premium costs, and that's a good thing," he said.Commissioners' Chairman Wayne Nothstein said there were a lot of factors that helped play a role in the decrease, including the safety committee's actions, paying attention with filing claims and the efforts of the employees, as well as Wildoner Insurance and PCoRP.Commissioner Thomas J. Gerhard, who sits on the safety committee, commended the committee for its efforts, as well as the maintenance department for making sure things are repaired when needed.In addition to covering employees, the insurance policy covers $97.1 million in county property and 56 vehicles, general liability, law enforcement liability, public officials' errors and omissions, automobile liability, medical payments for auto and premises claims, professional liability and crime, equipment breakdown and flood insurances.In 2007-2008, the county paid $380,109 for the insurance policy. It then dropped to $338,383 for 2008-2009; increased to $386,446 in 2009-2010; decreased to $357,598 in 2010-2011; decreased again to $259,521 in 2011-2012; increased slightly in 2012-2013 to $271,600; decreased to $266,058 in 2013-2014 and decreased again to $242,926 in 2014-2015.One of the factors that drives the annual premium is the loss experience and claims. From June 1, 2014, to date, PCoRP paid 13 Carbon claims amounting to $16,091, slightly more than the $15,143 it paid for 15 claims from June 1, 2013, to May 31, 2014. Those numbers are significantly lower than the $136,944 in 13 claims the county was charged for in 2009-2010.Carbon County is one of 49 counties and four county-related agencies that use the PCoRP insurance, operated by the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania. PCoRP, which was formed in April 1987, insures over $5.3 billion worth of property throughout Pennsylvania, as well as thousands of vehicles and employees.O'Gurek said one of the other reasons the premium dropped this year was the overall pool average costs dropped approximately 5 percent, showing the other counties are looking at ways to lower claims.The policy will be paid on a 40-30-30 percent basis.