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Lopatcong board calls on state for relief from rising school employee health-care costs
Summary
The board unanimously approved a resolution urging the governor and Legislature to provide short-term relief and long-term reform for sharply increasing public employee health-care premiums, citing a Treasury analysis and recent double-digit premium hikes.
The Lopatcong Township Board of Education on May 28 approved a resolution urging state action to address rapid increases in school employee health-care costs.
Board member Julia Jones-Jasper introduced Resolution R-330-26, which called on the governor and state Legislature to provide immediate short-term relief and to convene stakeholder discussions to pursue long‑term reforms in how benefits are delivered. The resolution cites a March 2026 Treasury Department analysis and notes recent double-digit premium increases that the agenda says have placed significant strain on district budgets.
Why it matters: the board said rising premiums threaten district budgets and local programs, and the resolution requests state-level action because local boards have limited authority to offset sharp health-care cost increases.
The resolution, as recorded on the agenda, references a 31.9% premium increase that took effect in January 2026 and an overall premium increase approaching 74% over the preceding five years. It directs that copies of the resolution be forwarded to Governor Mikie Sherrill, State Treasurer Aaron Binder, legislative leaders including Senate President Nicholas Scutari and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, area legislators and the New Jersey School Boards Association.
Motion and vote: Mrs. Julia Jones-Jasper moved the resolution; Dr. John Severs seconded. The board approved the resolution on a roll-call vote with recorded yea votes and two absences noted on the roll call as shown in the meeting record.
Next steps: the resolution is advisory to state officials; it formalizes the board’s request that the governor and Legislature engage stakeholders to design cost relief and system reforms.
