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Councillors flag rising health insurance costs and urge focus on employee wages
Summary
Councilors questioned double‑digit health insurance premium increases and discussed employee pay, cost‑of‑living adjustments and a longer‑term aim to move toward a living wage; staff said the budget maintains current FTEs and applied modest COLAs.
Councilors used the budget hearing to press staff on health insurance inflation and employee pay.
The business operations manager said the FY27 budget includes an increase in health insurance premiums of about 15 percent and that the town’s share of premiums rose from about $1.8 million to $2.2 million. She said the budget implements cost‑of‑living adjustments (general employees 1.5%, fire 2%, police 2.5%) and continues the town contribution of 75% toward employees’ retirement contributions: “All of the town's employees received the cost of living adjustment. General employees received 1.5%. Fire department employees received 2%. Police department employees received 2.5 percent,” the business operations manager said.
Several councilors thanked staff for gains in financial stability but urged the council to continue the conversation about pay and to pursue higher wages over time. One councilor cited a living‑wage estimate of $20.88 an hour for a single adult and said the council should work toward that goal while balancing fiscal constraints. Staff reiterated the budget does not reduce force or cut positions.
Councilors also asked for more transparency around director and employee pay and suggested work sessions or having directors appear before council to justify budget requests in the future. No changes to benefits or staffing levels were made at the meeting.
