BECKLEY -- State workers in southern West Virginia got a chance to weigh in on a proposal to increase their premiums Tuesday night. Beckley was the site of the second public hearing about the Public Employees Insurance Agency's Plan to keep their books balanced.

More than 100 people converged on Tamarack for the public hearing, but one of the most unsettling comments at this hearing came from a PEIA Finance Board Member, who said some of his colleagues cannot grasp the full scope of how people who are affected feel about the changes that are on the table for discussion.

"You know, I'm concerned about the fact that there are only two of the nine board members here and we have a very big decision to make in December." said Josh Sword, a member of PEIA Finance Board on hand for the public hearing for the southern end of West Virginia.

The crowd on hand included an even mix of active and retired public workers. Virtually everyone there said they cannot afford the proposed 4-percent hike in premiums as well as rate increases for deductibles and out-of-pocket expense caps.

Judy Goodson, a bus driver for the Fayette County School System talks about what the proposal to her health costs will mean.

"It can also mean that I'll have to make up my mind whether or not to purchase the medication or to not purchase the medication ... to pay my power bill or pay my out of pocket expenses." Goodson said.

That is not the intention of the proposal according to the Secretary of the Department of Administration and Chair of the PEIA Finance Board, Robert Ferguson.

"We don't derive any pleasure from this. We are trying to find a way to mitigate the bills so we can make sure we have a healthcare system that lasts for years." said Ferguson.

Several unions representing state workers are among the attendees in Beckley. The president of the largest teacher's union in West Virginia said past public hearings have had little impact when it comes to shaping policy and prices.

Dale Lee said he is afraid history will repeat itself with Tuesday's public hearing.

"That's my fear -- we don't want these public hearings continue to be the sham they have been," Lee said.

The first meeting of the PEIA Finance Board was held in Charleston Monday night and board member Josh Sword said fewer than half of the nine-member panel showed up for that hearing.

The series of public hearings is scheduled to continue whether finance board members are there to hear the public comment for themselves or not. Beckley was the second stop on this public input tour of the state, hearings are set for next week in Martinsburg, Morgantown, Wheeling, and Huntington.