Selectmen review 2.6% budget increase as technology, insurance and pensions drive costs

Selectman Matt presented a proposed 2026 town budget calling for a 2.6% overall increase driven chiefly by rising technology and benefits costs.

Matt said technology lines are up because Microsoft license renewals and web hosting fees have risen and the town has moved more town accounts to individual name-based credentials. The budget includes higher telephone and internet costs but also added fiber at town buildings that officials said they expect may reduce operating costs over time once transition costs are absorbed. "You'll see a 2.6% increase is what I'm presenting," Matt said.

Presenters told the board they had shifted several positions from full time to part time to limit near-term budget pressure, but cautioned those savings could reverse if the positions later convert to full-time and require family health coverage. The presenters used a $44,000-per-family estimate for health coverage and a roughly 14% pension factor when modelling potential full-time hires.

Board members pressed on overtime and employee stress after staff reductions. One selectman said cutting full-time headcount and relying on part-time work can increase overtime and stress employees in high-demand departments; presenters responded that the part-time positions described do not carry overtime and that an exceptional medical leave drove the year’s elevated overtime line for one office.

The budget discussion also noted a $75,000 technology expense already spent as of September and an unresolved uncertainty around the July Microsoft license renewal. Officials proposed a modest technology ETF contribution in hopes of smoothing future server and license replacement costs.

No formal vote on the budget occurred during the session; selectmen took the presentation under advisement and asked staff to bring follow-up materials and clarifications to a future meeting.