The Montgomery County School Board decided against joining the consortium after it found out that employees' out-of-pocket costs would rise starting in October.

Consortium consultants had told the board that the cost for employees' plans would not change, except for a decrease in premiums the county would need to pay.

Under the school system's negotiated rates with Anthem through the consortium for 2009-10, employees plus one child or spouse would pay $3,267 a year, a $202 decrease from the current rates. Those on a family plan would pay $9,457.40, a $585 decrease.

But on Tuesday night, when board members reviewed an overview of the new insurance plans, there was a more-than-double increase in out-of-pocket costs of employees on the PPO plan, a $1,500 increase for individuals and a $3,000 for families.

A majority of school employees are on the PPO plan, said Walt Shannon, interim superintendent.

Shannon said he didn't think the consortium intended to mislead the board, but board members said they felt betrayed.

The consortium was organized in 1998 as a way to curb insurance rates. The school board can opt out of the consortium at any time.

Other county governments in the valley are members, including Montgomery and Pulaski counties.