Wachusett Regional trustees say new insurance funding could cut FY27 benefits spending by about $2 million

Dr. Riley told the Wachusett Regional School District Committee at a special meeting that a new health-insurance funding arrangement approved by the PEC could reduce the district's FY27 benefits and insurance appropriation by more than $2 million and materially lower assessed increases to member towns.

"Under the new structure, the overall health insurance costs will be reduced significantly for both employees and the district," Dr. Riley said, adding the change would reduce the district's benefits appropriation by "over $2 million." He said the net effect would shrink the districtwide appropriation increase from the previously approved 4.44% to a proposed single-digit figure in the 1–4% range once the insurance savings and other adjustments are applied.

The administration presented examples of town-level impacts: Holden's assessment would be about a 3.90% increase, Paxton 2.80%, Princeton about 8.03% (down from roughly 10%), Rutland 5.07% and Sterling 7.5%, with the overall town-assessment increase near 3.82% under…