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Franklin County Technical School warns 16–20% health-insurance spikes as towns face higher assessments
Summary
FCTS leaders told Northfield's Finance Committee that potential 16–20% insurance-rate increases forced large cuts and conservative budgeting for FY27; Northfield's assessment for 58 students was estimated at $1,153,893 under current per-pupil figures.
Franklin County Technical School officials briefed the Northfield Finance Committee on Feb. 2 about the school’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget and the outsized effect rising health-insurance costs are having on proposed assessments to member towns.
Superintendent Richard Martin and Business Manager Elizabeth Bouchard said new health-insurance quotes could increase costs by 16% with higher deductibles or 20% without, pushing the school to remove $750,000–$800,000 from its preliminary budget and to budget conservatively while it refines figures for the School Committee.
Martin said Northfield sent 50 students to FCTS last year and has 58 this year; at the stated per-pupil amount of $19,895, Northfield’s FY27 assessment for 58 students would be roughly $1,153,893. He said the state’s Chapter 70 and regional transportation aid increases were modest (about 1.7% total) and did not offset insurance-driven cost pressures.
School officials noted some budget reductions across leadership and operations, a pending decision on whether to remain with Hampshire County Group Insurance Trust or pursue other procurement options, and a projected ramp-up of any new debt service beginning in 2029–30 if member towns approve a new-building bond. Martin said bringing the current building up to code without state support would cost about $103 million; a new building option was estimated at $123 million to be paid over 10 years.
Bouchard said the school’s certified excess and deficiencies (free cash) totaled $533,747 and that the assessment to towns is calculated from the school’s per-student expenditure. Martin said enrollment projections may plateau or decline and that the school will publish an MSBA-linked webpage with detailed documents for transparency.
FCTS leaders said they will continue budget refinements through the School Committee’s February and March deliberations and will inform member towns once final figures are approved.
