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Hooksett school leaders say surprise SchoolCare assessment forced cuts as premium rise eases to 7.7%
Summary
Superintendent Bill Rirk told the Hooksett budget committee a SchoolCare assessment that initially was calculated at $553,074 for the district was reduced to $257,056, and the insurer-administrator notified the district its premium increase would be 7.7%, lowering the district's default and operating increase estimates. The board cut proposed staff and deferred a portable classroom to reduce the budget.
Hooksett school district leaders told the town’s budget committee on Nov. 14 that a large, unexpected assessment from SchoolCare — the administrator for the district’s employee health pool — has reshaped next year’s budget and prompted significant cuts.
"We received word on Monday that our premium increase would only be 7.7%," Superintendent Bill Rirk said. "That lowered our default increase to 3.18% and our operating request to 4.29%." Rirk said those revised figures will appear in updated budget documents the committee will receive next week.
Rirk also described a separate SchoolCare assessment originally calculated at $553,074 under an early formula for Hooksett; the school board used anticipated revenues to reduce the district’s share to $257,056. "That was…
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