The impact of escalating health care costs on Education Reform were partially addressed in the Boston Herald article (below), but Middleboro voters should be aware that the town currently pays 90% of employees' health care premiums and provides a $5 co-pay and prescription drug coverage.
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Others municipalities have placed their retirees on Medicare.
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No other municipality provides 90% payment of premiums.
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If you find one of 351 cities and towns, please forward the information.
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If you find a private employer that provides those benefits, please forward the information.
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If you believe that Middleboro can't successfully live within its revenues, how much could the town save by amending ONLY health care ?
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If YOU don't approve contracts at Town Meeting, it's back to the drawing board.
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Soaring health costs sicken school reform
By Edward Moscovitch Friday, December 21, 2007
Runaway inflation in health-care costs poses a severe threat to school reform in Massachusetts.
Yes, you read that right.
A recent analysis by the Department of Education (DoE) shows that spending on health care for school employees rose a stunning 12.3 percent per year from 2002 through 2006. At that rate, spending on health insurance doubles every six years. It thus outstrips the increase in other costs (3.4 percent per year over the same period) and the national price index used to adjust the state’s foundation education budget (2.9 percent).
It should come as no surprise then that a preliminary DoE study of actual school spending shows spending on health care alone exceeds the foundation budget health insurance allotment (on which current aid payments are based) by something like $850 million statewide.
BostonHerald
By Edward Moscovitch Friday, December 21, 2007
Runaway inflation in health-care costs poses a severe threat to school reform in Massachusetts.
Yes, you read that right.
A recent analysis by the Department of Education (DoE) shows that spending on health care for school employees rose a stunning 12.3 percent per year from 2002 through 2006. At that rate, spending on health insurance doubles every six years. It thus outstrips the increase in other costs (3.4 percent per year over the same period) and the national price index used to adjust the state’s foundation education budget (2.9 percent).
It should come as no surprise then that a preliminary DoE study of actual school spending shows spending on health care alone exceeds the foundation budget health insurance allotment (on which current aid payments are based) by something like $850 million statewide.
