Town braces for 20 percent health care cost spike

ST. JOHNSBURY — Officials in the Vermont town of St. Johnsbury are bracing for a spike in health care costs, expected to be between 20 percent and 24 percent next year.
The increase translates to an increase in health care premiums of between $88,000 and $108,000, although the costs are somewhat offset by employee contributions.
Selectman Jim Rust says the increase is due to state and federal mandates.
Rust tells the Caledonian Record (http://bit.ly/U6fv2K0 officials are considering other insurance policies, but that would require union support.