A number of communities will get payouts this summer from the Local Government Center. Nearly a year ago, a hearing officer ordered the LGC to return more than $33 million in health insurance premium surplus to member communities.
The LGC is dividing the surplus based on the percentage each community contributed to the HealthTrust pot. Payouts range from $42 to more than $1 million. LGC Interim Executive Director George Bald says members heard about their refunds in a letter sent out last week.
“There’s been almost no response from any communities," Bald says. "I think they were aware that it was coming, and I think now they know the amount. But I’ve been surprised that there has been, really, not many questions on it at all.”
Some of the biggest checks will go to school districts and School Administrative Units. Exeter-area schools will get the largest payout, at $1.1 million, with those in Plaistow, Keene and Merrimack not far behind. Among cities and towns, Portsmouth will see more than $640 thousand. Exeter, Claremont, and Conway will also get six-figure refunds. Under the hearing officer’s order, the LGC is required to return the surplus money by September first.
