all material on this blog is directed to members of the general public and is not intended to be read by my fellow Committee members, nor do I intend for any readers to convey such material directly or indirectly to my fellow Committee members.

Just not in Templeton! Health insurance costs matter!

Governor Charlie Baker’s proposed state budget keeps spending growth in the state’s Medicaid program, a lifeline for low-income residents who need medical care, to 5 percent a year.

That increase would be modest compared to the double-digit jumps in recent years. But the program, known as MassHealth, would still account for $15.4 billion — the single biggest chunk of the state budget — to provide insurance to more than one-fourth of the state’s residents. It accounts for nearly 40 percent of the $39.6 billion state budget The program’s massive costs and rapid growth force state officials to make difficult choices, given the governor’s stated goal not to raise taxes. So, every dollar spent on health care for the poor is a dollar not spent on education, transportation, or other programs

Disclaimer

Opinions expressed are those of Jeff Bennett and do not represent any other member of the Advisory Committee 

posted by Jeff Bennett

all material on this blog is directed to members of the general public and is not intended to be read by my fellow Committee members, nor do I intend for any readers to convey such material directly or indirectly to my fellow Committee members.

Just for clarity sake and correct information, The Town of Templeton and the Narragansett School district are two legal separate entities. Different labor contracts, separate retirement, separate health insurance costs. At Town meeting, the people either have to vote the whole school district budget as presented or reject it entirely, and the saw the process back in 2013 if both towns do not accept the budget that is present by the school committee.

So, if the Town of Templeton were to adjust the split for Templeton Town employees health insurance, that would not affect the school district employees.

Looking at the budget/expense plan present to Town meeting on May 14, 2016 by the board of selectmen, it shows Group insurance (health insurance) as:

Fiscal year 2014 - $   782,950.00
Fiscal Year 2015 - $   979,497.00
Fiscal Year 2016 - $1,056,012.00
Fiscal Year 2017 - $1,124,976.00
 And with Fiscal Year 2018 just voted on and comments from the interim town administrator:
"It is pretty tough to survive when one-half of your budget is totally uncontrollable - education/Monty Tech & NRHS, and consuming almost all of your new revenues while 12%  +/- of the remainder of your budget trends at 7% +/- per year increases. I believe if one checks, that would be health insurance costs to taxpayers. Move all employees to 35% contribution rates."

I only suggest the Town may have to consider percentage changes and may eventually have to move all employees to 50% contribution rates. When revenue is dictated at 2 1/2% and things such as health insurance rises at 7% increases per year, one does not have to be a rocket scientist to see that some thing (s) have to give. This is a financial consideration that selectmen will have to deal with. Transfers during the year to pay for group health insurance as well as leaving a position open (fire chief) and state thru a T/A report that such action may allow health insurance costs to even out to possibly make it through the fiscal year without further financial transfers demonstrates that something (s) must change. It is a financial reality that should be looked at and considered, in my opinion. If ya want free boots, free tee shirts and free coats, the money has to come from somewhere.

from the Massachusetts Municipal Association:

Governor signs final FY18 state budget after vetoes

July 18, 2017

The governor sent back to the Legislature important sections related to the state’s MassHealth program, including the $200 million assessment on businesses that was included in the budget’s revenue plan. The governor supported the plan, but asked the Legislature to couple it with reforms to the program to give it long-term sustainability. The governor asked the Legislature to act on his reform and revenue plan within the next 60 days in order to avoid a $350 million budget shortfall.

Business' may have to pay more so the state's health insurance program can be sustainable, so it seems to make sense to have employees pay more so they can have insurance. I believe if you check the law, the town has to pay 50% and anything else is from the heart, the taxpayers heart and wallet.

Disclaimer

Opinions expressed are those of Jeff Bennett and do not represent any other member of the Advisory Committee 

posted by Jeff Bennett

all material on this blog is directed to members of the general public and is not intended to be read by my fellow Committee members, nor do I intend for any readers to convey such material directly or indirectly to my fellow Committee members.

More evidence the selectmen play with your money and present deceiving items at Town Meeting: If the selectmen are going to ask for $100,000.00 for Town vehicles fuel, those dollars should stay their and if not all used, they would roll over into un-allocated funds at the end of year  (known as free cash). If and when "free cash" is certified, some of it should go to the Town's savings, general stabilization fund.

from the Annual Town Meeting report of May 14, 2016: (34 transfers with just this article)

FISCAL 2016 FINANCIAL TRANSFERS To see if the town will vote to increase, decrease or otherwise adjust any budget line item as appropriated by the Town at the May 16, 2015 Annual Town Meeting, and to raise and appropriate, borrow pursuant to any applicable statute and/or transfer from available funds, such sums as may be needed by the various departmental budgets and appropriations to complete the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016; or to take any other action relative thereto. Submitted by the Board of Selectmen

Article 3 with amendments
                       from town fuel -  to town telephone                                   $  3200.00
                       from town fuel -  to medicare                                             $  9500.00
                       from town fuel -  to selectmen selectmen office expense  $16000.00
                       from town fuel to - town accountant                                   $11000.00

$37,900.00 apparently not needed for town fuel and if you look into fiscal year 2017, there was about $47,000.00 not needed or used for town fuel, even in both cases, selectmen told town meeting they needed $100,000.00 for fuel. Both times, money from town fuel was taken away and used for other bills, which makes me wonder about the whole process, do the current selectmen really understand how to do this expense process?

I ask the question; is this why selectmen draw out the budget/expense building process so long as to avoid any time for review and therefore try to avoid these questions before town meeting. If there is a Town by-law that states a certain committee is to have a pre-town meeting and the documents are so late in getting to them, are the tough detailed questions, discussion and analysis avoided? Is this a deliberate move on the part of the selectmen?
Disclaimer

Opinions expressed are those of Jeff Bennett and do not represent any other member of the Advisory Committee 

posted by Jeff Bennett