To the Editor:

Does the agreement [“Agreement allows for formation of county healthcare consortium,” The Altamont Enterprise, Nov. 15, 2024], which includes three school districts, include those local resident/tax payers who are employed in private schools, and home schooling? Might not all Albany County residents and taxpayers benefit?

The potential benefits to the six municipalities and three school districts that are considering being part of the consortium, if the costs turn out to be lower, ought to be shared with the taxpayers of the affected taxing governmental entities.

For instance, if lower costs result from taxpayers’ money being spent through the county’s health-care consortium, then all taxpayers might benefit from having the choice to purchase health care through the consortium.

All county residents ought to be free to purchase the care that their tax dollars make possible, and government should give to taxpayers the same taxpayer-funded government subsidies that government gives to government employees.

This may go a long way to providing quality, affordable care to all Albany County residents and taxpayers.

Edgar Tolmie

Altamont

Editor’s note: These six Albany County municipalities — Altamont, Green Island, Guilderland, Menands, New Scotland, and Watervliet — along with these three school districts — Berne-Knox-Westerlo, Capital Region BOCES, and North Colonie — have agreed to discuss forming a consortium that may lower their costs for providing health insurance to their employees.

If the plan moves forward, the coalition would not be open to any county residents.Taxpayers may realize an indirect savings, however, if the insurance costs for those municipalities are reduced.