Documents › Board of Education, 2026-03-12

resolution 2 pages

Resolution: Advocacy for Universal Health Insurance Reserve Fund Authorization WHEREAS, the Croton-Harmon UFSD Board of Education is committed to maintaining high-quality educational programs while exercising responsible fiscal oversight on behalf of local taxpayers; and WHEREAS, the cost of providing health insurance for employees and retirees represents one of the largest and most unpredictable expenditures within the School District’s annual operating budget; and WHEREAS, under current New York State Law (General Municipal Law § 6-n), municipal corporations such as towns and villages are authorized to establish insurance reserve funds, yet school districts are generally excluded from establishing such reserves specifically for health-related costs without seeking individual, special legislation; and WHEREAS, school districts are further constrained by a statutory 4% cap on unassigned fund balance, leaving them with limited ability to absorb double-digit premium increases or unexpected fluctuations in healthcare costs without impacting instructional programs; and WHEREAS, granting all school districts the authority to establish and fund a health insurance reserve would provide a vital tool for long-term financial planning, allowing districts to "smooth" costs over multiple years and protect the continuity of student programs; and WHEREAS, the New York State Legislature has previously recognized this need by granting reserve authority to select districts on a case-by-case basis, demonstrating that a universal authorization is a logical and necessary expansion of sound fiscal policy; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Croton-Harmon UFSD Board of Education hereby calls upon Governor Kathy Hochul, the New York State Education Department (NYSED), and the New York State Legislature to enact legislation to amend the General Municipal Law to universally authorize all school districts to establish and fund health insurance reserve funds; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Croton-Harmon UFSD Board of Education emphasizes that this legislative change carries zero fiscal impact or cost to the State of New York, as it merely authorizes districts to manage their own local funds with greater prudence and transparency; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that such legislation would serve as a meaningful form of mandate relief, providing districts the flexibility to manage health-related financial risks in a manner consistent with other municipal entities; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Board of Education directs the District Clerk to send a copy of this resolution to the following: ​ ·​ ​Dana Levenberg, State Assembly Member ·​ ​Peter Harckham, State Senator ·​ ​Kathy Hochul, the Governor of the State of New York ·​ ​Carl Heastie, the Speaker of the New York State Assembly ·​ ​Andrea Stewart-Cousins, the Majority Leader of the New York State Senate ·​ ​Michael Benedetto, State Assemblyman, Chair, Committee on Education ·​ ​Shelley Mayer, ​State Senate, Chair, Committee on Education ·​ ​Dr. Betty Rosa, NYS Commissioner of Education ·​ ​Dr. Lester W. Young, Jr., Chancellor, NYS Board of Regents · Robert Schneider, Executive Director, New York State School Boards Association ·​ ​Karen Belanger, Executive Director​, Westchester Putnam School Boards Association THE CROTON-HARMON BOARD OF EDUCATION Ana C. Teague, President Anamika Bhatnagar, Vice President Sarah Carrier Neal Haber Omar Mayyasi Theo Oshiro Allison Samuels