New Jersey Health Care Cap Met with Opposition
The ink was barely dry on Governor Chris Christie's new two percent property tax cap when a recommendation was made for the state to charge 6-12 percent more for the health care coverage it provides to towns and schools across the state.KYW's David Madden reports it was an "I told you so" moment for Bill Dressel, executive director of the New Jersey League of Municipalities:
"The cost of the health benefits is a poster child example of cost drivers that are being foisted upon local officials from state government onto municipal government that they have absolutely no control over."
Health care costs are one of the exceptions to the cap. But Christie's "toolkit" of local reforms to allow towns to cut costs is supposed to help deal with situations such as this.
Dressel remembers four years ago when a four percent cap was instituted and reforms were promised, but never delivered. He wishes the Governor and legislature would address the "toolkit" with the same urgency they gave to the cap.
