Recently, an official from another town told me about a proposal floated a few years ago to have the towns and county purchase employee health insurance as a large group. The theory that the combined work forces had enough employees to provide a discount of up to 20% of what the towns/county are paying. Sadly, the idea never advance beyond the discussion phase. All municipal governments saw big increases in health benefits last year.
I believe this proposal should be revisited. According to my calculations, a 20% reduction in health premiums would save $418,000 and lower property taxes by 4.4%.
2017
Budget
|
Health Benefits
|
20% savings
|
General Fund
|
$1,149,256
|
$229,851
|
Outside Village
|
$586,111
|
$117,222
|
Highway
|
$356,864
|
$71,373
|
Total Savings
|
$418,446
|
