Cohasset’s financial landscape faced a stark evaluation Tuesday night as school leaders detailed a $1.3 million funding gap and the Select Board implemented significant fee hikes for the town’s recycling and transfer facility. During a joint session of the Select Board, Advisory Board, and School Committee, School Committee Chair Jennifer Lesky opened the fiscal year 2027 budget discussion by framing the district’s needs as a community investment. The power of well-funded schools is often intangible, Lesky noted, pointing to the district’s high academic rankings and strong local connections as foundational to the town’s identity.

Superintendent Sarah Shannon and Finance Director Sue Owen presented a level-service budget that originally required an 11.88% increase. Through the use of revolving accounts and grant funding, the district lowered that request to 8.82%, or $2.2 million. However, with the town only projecting a 3.5% allocation for the schools, a $1.3 million deficit remains. Shannon explained that providing even basic services has become increasingly difficult under the current state funding model. A level service budget is a higher budget because things like utilities go up, salaries go up, Shannon said. In order to provide level service, we really can't do it anymore with the way that the state funds schools.

The gap will likely necessitate staffing reductions of 10 to 15 full-time positions, even as the district grapples with rising utility costs. Owen highlighted the volatility of energy spending, noting that while usage is down, utility costs were highlighted as a major driver, with usage down but spending up exponentially. Advisory Board Member Mark Cameron questioned if the state’s new millionaires tax might provide relief, but Shannon clarified that Cohasset currently receives zero dollars from the Student Opportunity Act. To better understand these long-term pressures, Advisory Board Member Diane Kennedy and Select Board Member David Farrag requested five-year "budget versus actual" reports. Farrag emphasized the need for trending analysis to guide future planning.

The fiscal strain prompted a tense exchange regarding the town’s independence. Select Board Vice Chair Paul Grady urged the committees to look beyond traditional solutions. Are we thinking outside the box? Regionalization. It would be a town... Hull. I have not heard a response from anybody. I've asked a number of times, Grady said, adding that the days like Little House in the Prairie are over. School Committee Secretary Lance Dial voiced strong opposition to the idea, citing geographic hurdles and the importance of local identity. Hull being our only possible candidate, not ideal from a regionalization standpoint... Me personally, I would be very strongly opposed... the role of our schools is to help build our community, Dial stated. Select Board Chair Ellen Maher suggested the immediate formation of a working group to coordinate a multi-year override strategy starting in fiscal year 2028. Would it not be prudent maybe to get a working group together... to start brainstorming for FY27 going forward? Maher asked.

Following the joint session, the Select Board turned to the 2026 Annual Town Meeting warrant. Interim Town Manager Michelle Leary identified 21 initial articles, including a placeholder for a debt exclusion related to the MSBA school feasibility study. **Motion Made by P. Grady to open Cohasset's annual town meeting 2026 warrant.** **Motion Passed 4-0**. The board also moved to modernize the town’s "sticker" system. Town Clerk Leisa Legge proposed rebranding the items as "permits" to emphasize the contractual obligation of users. She also recommended expanding the veterans' discount to all active-duty and retired military personnel. **Motion Made by P. Grady to approve the Town of Cohasset All Facilities Permit 2026 Rules and Regulations sans the price list.** **Motion Passed 4-0**.

Residential costs will see an immediate impact following a debate over Transfer Station fees. Because the facility is not an Enterprise Fund, revenue is split between the town and schools, requiring higher fees to sustain operations. Leary proposed raising the first permit fee from $150 to $165 and doubling the cost of construction and demolition waste from 15 cents to 30 cents per pound. The cost obligations for trash is just significant, Leary said. We're running out of space as a whole to dispose of the trash. Therefore the cost for everything just keeps climbing. Select Board Clerk Julie Rollins questioned why the board was not considering an even higher $385 fee previously identified as the full "break-even" point. The previous town manager made it very clear... if the town did not vote for the enterprise fund... the required new fee amount... would be about 385. Why are we not voting on 385? Rollins asked. Leary explained the current proposal is a "blend" intended to keep the facility competitive with private haulers. **Motion Made by D. Farrag to approve the proposed permit fee prices recommended today, February 10, 2026, as well as the bulky waste recommended fees.** **Motion Passed 4-0**.

In other business, Town Accountant Beth Moseley delivered a second-quarter financial report, warning that while revenues are on target, public safety overtime is high, with police at 68% and fire at 61% of their budgets. We really don't have free cash to throw at any of this this year, Moseley cautioned. The board concluded by selecting seven members for the Town Manager Search Committee and finalizing the job advertisement. During the discussion, Farrag successfully advocated for lowering the minimum experience requirement from seven years to five years to attract a broader range of talent. I thought 7 years was very high and that we're cutting off that group of people who would be on their way up, Farrag argued. **Motion Made by P. Grady to approve the amended Town Manager ad with a five-year minimum experience requirement, a $225,000 salary cap, and the inclusion of Chief Procurement Officer duties.** **Motion Passed 4-0**.