Cohasset Faces 15% Healthcare Cost Hike, Police Calls Surge 129%
Town Manager Warns of Budget Challenges as Departments Present FY2026 Requests
COHASSET - February 11 - Cohasset officials are grappling with a projected 15% increase in healthcare costs for the upcoming fiscal year, a challenge that could significantly impact the town's budget and services. The revelation came during a Select Board meeting Tuesday night, where department heads presented their budget requests for fiscal year 2026.
Town Manager Chris Senior highlighted the healthcare cost increase as one of the most pressing financial challenges facing the town.
"Our healthcare costs are projected to increase by more than 15%," Senior said. "We're meeting with our representative from MIIA in the next couple of weeks, so we should have a little bit better handle on that."
The town plans to use some free cash to help offset the healthcare increases, as Senior noted they "can't afford $1.2 million in the budget that easily."
Adding to the fiscal pressure, Police Chief William Quigley reported a staggering 129% increase in call volume over the past five years. In 2024, the department responded to 16,385 calls, up from about 7,150 in 2019.
"Most of the call volume, the increase in calls is accounted for. We're seeing a huge spike in mental health calls," Quigley explained. "Some of the facilities on 3A that handle mental health and addiction causes us to be very busy."
The surge in demand has stretched the department's resources, with Quigley noting that mental health-related calls often require multiple officers and can take hours to resolve.
Despite the increased workload, the police department's proposed budget of $3.68 million for FY2026 represents a level service budget. This includes the addition of a school resource officer for the Deer Hill and Osgood schools, as well as the transfer of parking management costs from the IT department to the police budget.
Fire Chief John Dockray also presented a level service budget of $3.2 million for FY2026. He highlighted the need for a new ambulance, estimated at $500,000, to replace a 10-year-old vehicle with 150,000 miles.
Dockray noted that the department is currently down three positions, contributing to higher overtime costs. "The OT is covering those spots that we're down right now," he explained.
The fire chief also emphasized the importance of training, suggesting it as an area where additional funding could be beneficial. "Probably training. Definitely training," Dockray said when asked about potential budget additions.
Harbor Master Lorren Gibbons presented a straightforward budget with minimal changes, primarily covering personnel costs for herself and two seasonal workers, along with expenses for boat maintenance and fuel.
As the town faces these financial challenges, Senior outlined several strategies to manage the budget, including:
- Using free cash to offset healthcare increases
- Continuing to put additional resources into the Capital Stabilization Reserve Fund
- Recommending a shift of half the Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) contribution to the fall special town meeting
- Juggling positions to dedicate more administrative staff time to facilities and procurement without adding new headcount
The Select Board will continue to review department budgets in the coming weeks as they work to finalize the FY2026 budget proposal for the annual town meeting.
"We're going to start investing, we're going to be borrowing money. The more we save on interest, the less it costs the taxpayer," Senior said, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the town's Triple A bond rating.
As budget discussions continue, residents are encouraged to stay informed by watching Select Board meetings and other relevant committee sessions available on the town website.