Jennifer McLain reports today that the “Jardin de Roca” or “Garden of Rocks” city has been offering subsidized medical and vision coverage to residents for 30 years. The price tag: $1.

The plan cost the city $1.1 million last year.

In many cases, the coverage is better than what some residents get from employers, said City Manager Robert Griego.

Residents in the 2008-09 fiscal year paid $3 for a 34-day supply of generic medication. The $3 refills were unlimited.

Glasses frames less than $55 were free. So were lenses. And for a $25 deductible, a resident could get contact lenses.

“Our program should be the last resort,” Griego said. “Unfortunately, residents are turning to this program first.”

The city is looking to trim the program back a bit, but the coverage will still be there. Nice perk for simply being a resident.