Insurance costs for some 2,500 city employees in Shreveport are about to go up.

Tom Dark, chief administrative officer, says the increases are necessary because the city has to make up a million dollar difference in claims and payments.

The city has taken in $19 million and paid out almost $20 million claims.

"It's either going to come from the city or the reserve in the health care fund or the employees and we're looking on trying to see if we can find a way to make it less difficult on the employees," said Dark.

The monthly premiums would go up about 17% on average.

Police officers and firefighters would have to pay more than $5,000 extra each year.  Sanitation workers would have to pay almost $3,300 for health care.

The health care board meets on Monday to make a final decision.

The higher fees, if approved, would start in December.