Superintendent: health insurance rise modest; capital bids and project coordination planned

Superintendent Ray updated the committee on the district’s budget and capital work at the April 9 meeting, saying health insurance costs are expected to increase by about 4.8 percent and outlining opportunities to coordinate planned construction to reduce mobilization costs.

Ray said the district did not fall into a higher-cost insurance bracket some districts faced and that a 4.8% increase would keep the district aligned with budget goals. "We did not fall into the 11.5% category ... We're at a 4.8% increase," he said.

On capital projects, Ray said the planning board completed an initial site review for the vocational addition and that the district expects to go out to bid in the coming weeks. He said a bid for an addition to Bedford Primary School was expected back in May and that finance committee members were discussing whether to leverage contractors already on-site to handle nearby paving and painting to reduce mobilization costs.

Finance committee members said they would continue to explore options to fund capital improvements — including carryover funds and other revenue sources — while seeking to avoid additional burdens for taxpayers. The committee asked administration for a deeper dive on capital items and how funds would be allocated; the superintendent said administrators would bring that information back at a future meeting.

Next step: administration will provide a more detailed capital plan and budget options at a subsequent committee meeting.