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Administration warns 36% state health‑benefits jump raises budget pressure; reserves used for retro pay and storms
Summary
Essex County finance director said the state health‑benefit increase (about 36%) adds roughly $24.5 million to the county budget for 2026; the presentation also reviewed pension/retro reserves and a $5 million storm reserve after recent storms.
Hussam Mohammed, director of finance, briefed the Board on central county finances and said a large state increase in the State Health Benefits Plan will raise county costs materially for the 2026 budget.
Mohammed said the state plan’s increase translated into roughly a $24.5 million jump in the county’s health‑benefits line; he and other officials told commissioners that the county will evaluate self‑insurance or hybrid arrangements for…
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