On the BPS101 agenda for May 24, 2016 is item 7.2 Insurance Renewal. The recommendation before the School Board is to increase insurance premiums 15.7% to cover the cost of health care expenses and to build up the severely depleted insurance reserve.

Why does this matter? The employees of BPS101 have extremely generous health insurance plans, with the majority share (70-100%) of the premiums being borne by the taxpayers. With tax levy increases capped by law to the CPI (lately <1%), increased premiums exceeding 15% mean less money for infrastructure and other necessities, and less money to keep teachers in the classrooms. Funny, there’s nothing in the report that gives the bottom line cost, the total impact on the budget.

Also to keep in mind is the Obamacare “Cadillac Tax” set to go into effect in 2020. Health insurance plans that exceed a certain value (currently $27,500 for a family plan) will be taxed at 40% of the excess. There are some plans listed that would exceed that amount were the tax enacted today.

Take a look at their plans by clicking here. See what taxpayers are paying (“Board share” = tax dollars). How many workers in the private sector have insurance plans with $250 deductibles???