The Vermont League of Cities & Towns Board of Directors has cancelled the special membership meeting scheduled for Monday, June 22, 2026. The action comes as VLCT learned that efforts to consolidate member purchasing power would not reduce health insurance rates for members in 2027. As a result, VLCT will not offer a health insurance plan to members next year.
The meeting had been called to consider proposals to incorporate and amend VLCT’s bylaws in order to meet regulatory requirements for offering an association health plan. Because VLCT will not be pursuing a health plan in 2027, a special meeting of members is no longer necessary. The remaining bylaw changes are not time-sensitive and can wait until the VLCT annual meeting this fall.
We continue to hear from members that health insurance costs are one of the greatest challenges Vermont municipalities face. The increases have resulted in rising property taxes, fewer road miles being resurfaced, fewer programs being offered to residents, and cuts to municipal services.
Preliminary filings from Vermont’s two health insurance carriers suggest that some relief from double-digit rate increases may be possible in 2027. Nonetheless, VLCT will continue to advocate for changes to state law that reduce the cost of health care and investigate ways we can help our members save money.
In the meantime, we encourage members to use VLCT’s Health Insurance Advisory Services. This program provides groups with customized consultative support and strategies for mitigating health insurance related costs, in partnership with VLCT’s exclusive employee benefits broker partner, Acrisure.
Ted Brady, Executive Director