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Simsbury selectmen opt to keep $1,000,000 health-insurance reserve, urge 2.15% mill-rate
Summary
At a special April 23 meeting, the Simsbury Board of Selectmen reviewed higher-than-expected health insurance claims and unanimously recommended keeping the $1,000,000 reserve in the FY 2026/27 budget, asking the Board of Finance to hold to a 2.15% mill-rate increase.
The Simsbury Board of Selectmen met April 23, 2026, via Zoom and unanimously recommended keeping a $1,000,000 health-insurance reserve in the FY 2026/27 budget while urging the Board of Finance to maintain a 2.15% mill-rate increase.
First Selectman Wendy Mackstutis told members the discussion followed the recent Board of Finance meeting and asked Finance Director Amy Meriwether to review options for covering higher-than-expected health-insurance claims. Meriwether told the board she had reviewed three options: keep the adopted budget using health-insurance reserves; use year-end surplus to cover excess claims; or remove $1,000,000 from the reserves and raise the mill rate beyond the adopted budget to cover the increase.
Meriwether summarized the options and context for the board’s decision, noting the current item originated from health-insurance claims in her quarterly reporting. After discussion, the board concluded the spike in claims appeared to be one-time and that removing the reserve and increasing taxes now was unnecessary. The board was unanimous in recommending that the Board of Finance adhere to a 2.15% mill-rate increase, which the Selectmen said reflected the intent of their adopted budget.
Kevin Beal moved to adjourn the special meeting effective April 23, 2026, at 9:55 a.m.; Steven Antonio seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Next steps: the Board of Finance will consider the Selectmen’s recommendation as it finalizes the town’s FY 2026/27 mill rate and budget. No formal change to the adopted budget was recorded at the special meeting; the decision recorded was the Selectmen’s consensus and recommendation to the Board of Finance.
