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Mount Arlington board urges state action on rising school employee health‑care costs
Summary
The board adopted a resolution calling on Governor Mikie Sherrill and state leaders to provide immediate relief and implement long‑term reforms to reduce rapidly rising health‑care premiums affecting school districts.
At its May 13 meeting the Mount Arlington Board of Education adopted a resolution urging the governor and state Legislature to provide short‑term relief and pursue long‑term reforms to address rising public‑employee health‑care costs that have strained local school budgets.
The resolution cites a Treasury Department analysis noting that active premium rate increases for 2027 are likely to be in the double digits, and references a 31.9% premium increase that took effect in January 2026 and an overall near‑74% increase over the prior five years. The board's resolution calls on Governor Mikie Sherrill, State Treasurer Aaron Binder, Senate President Nicholas Scutari, Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin and local legislators to act and directs that copies be forwarded to those officials and the New Jersey School Boards Association.
The motion to approve the resolution (051326‑S‑14) was presented by Melissa Eckert and seconded by Sheila Studint; the resolution passed by recorded vote. The minutes record the board’s concerns about the fiscal pressure created by premium growth and the downstream effects on programs and services if costs continue to outpace aid and local revenue capacity.
Why it matters: Locally adopted resolutions like this signal district-level fiscal distress and ask state policymakers to consider changes that could materially affect district budgets, staffing and programs.
Next steps: The resolution will be forwarded to the named state officials and the New Jersey School Boards Association, per the minutes.
