Monroeville officials heard on Tuesday that insurance will be a major budget pressure in 2026, with workers'comp and liability premiums rising after a string of claims.

Mark Forrester of Nova Insurance Services told the Mayor and Council that the borough's experience modification (the PCRB "mod") has increased, driving underwriting costs. "I'm now asking for $900,000 because the workers' comp has gone up approximately $270,000," Forrester said, explaining the carrier renewal and the actuarial snapshot used in pricing.

Forrester said the borough's mod has climbed to roughly 1.463 and that several large claims during the lookback window were responsible. He said that without a quality carrier willing to renew terms, the borough could be forced to the state insurer of last resort (SWIFT), where annual premiums would be far higher. "This cannot be taken for granted," he said, urging council to budget conservatively.

Finance staff said they have adjusted the draft budget to reflect the higher workers' comp figure; council members pressed for clarity on how the increase was calculated and how long the spike will affect premiums. Forrester and staff noted that at least some of the increase is tied to a line-of-duty fatality that will remain on the borough's claim history for multiple years and that some liability exposures (lawsuits) are still developing.

Council and staff discussed mitigation steps including stronger safety programs, the borough's long-running safety committee and training investments. Forrester said accreditation and documented risk-control measures had helped limit even larger increases and that the carrier renewed because of the borough's demonstrated processes.

Next steps: staff will finalize updated premium numbers and reflect them in the advertised budget. The council did not take a formal vote in the hearing; further adjustments and a final adoption vote are scheduled during subsequent budget meetings.