Insurance deal could cut school assessment hike

Select Board · Meeting of March 19, 2026

RUTLAND — The Wachusett Regional School District told Rutland officials a pending insurance deal could shrink the town's proposed school assessment hike from 7.5 percent to about 5.07 percent. Jim Riley and Business Finance Director Michelle Briseg said the district's Public Employee Committee conditionally approved a new high-deductible health plan March 16 that could cut the benefits line by $2 million, pending a final agreement and School Committee vote. Riley warned the savings are a one-time "perfect sunset," not a new baseline, since special education tuition drops and circuit breaker gains driving this year's relief won't repeat.

The district also disclosed two new earmarks totaling $400,000 from Senator Durant and Representative Ferguson. The Select Board adjourned at 8:22 p.m.; the Finance Committee then discussed Town Hall hour cuts tied to a possible override and reopening talks on Devereux Foundation's payment in lieu of taxes, which one member said has been "stagnant for decades."

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Source: the Select Board meeting of March 19, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.