CHESHIRE, Mass. — The Select Board and Finance Committee held a joint meeting last week to discuss the projected budget for fiscal year 2026, which is forecast to increase by about 4.5 percent. 

 

At the time of last week's meeting, the projected operating budget was $7,940,146. However, this will fluctuate during the budgeting process, said Jennifer Morse, town administrator, this week.

 

The driving forces for these increase include hikes in insurance, the school budget, and salaries. 

 

At the time of the joint meeting, active insurance was expecting an increase of $36,136 or 13.6 percent, which would total $301,872. 

 

Cheshire's appropriation for the school budget is $2,996,643, a 3.623 percent increase or $104,773. More information here. 

 

The board discussed the school budget, with one member expressing their disappointment and feeling that the School Committee didn't do the detailed diligence they were hoping for.

 

The board member said the committee was asked questions that town officials had asked them previously, but they could not be answered. 

 

"So, I'm not sure how they're going about their review. They've already signed off on it," the board member said. 

 

The committee has been more transparent in the fact that Superintendent Aaron Dean has communicated with the board chairs about what the expected budget increases are and what hurdles they have to overcome, including the cost of health insurance and out-of-district special education tuitions. 

 

"If they level funded everything with just those two increases, it was looking like a 10 percent increase. So, they did do work to reduce," the board member said, adding that he still would have liked for the committee to do a "deep dive" line by line to understand what every budget item is. 

 

The McCann Technical School assessment is $586,213, up $38,783, or about 7 percent, over this year. 

 

The other cause for the increase in the town's operating budget is salaries for several positions.

 

The town had done a salary survey, which demonstrated the need to increase salaries for some departments to make it equal to other towns, Morse said. 

 

During the joint meeting, the board and committee discussed ways to reduce costs, including adjusting budgets that no longer align with existing responsibilities.

 

It was highlighted how the Board of Health has the largest stipends but is not doing as much anymore. 

 

"I vividly remember an argument being made to double the electrical inspector because of all the solar projects, and we don't have solar projects that frequently anymore," one member said. 

 

The Board of Health still has other responsibilities, including inspection and enforcement for food, housing inspections, septic and Title 5, and tobacco establishments. It meets once a month.

 

It was raised whether the town should increase its legal budget because this year, the town is getting close to its budgeted amount.

 

The legal account has about $3,000 left, Morse said. 

 

The one case that is in litigation and is "sucking up a lot of the money" should be winding down, she said. 

 

One member asked if there is money set aside for court fees for condemned homes, which there is not. However, this could be re-examined once the need arises, Morse said. 

 

A board member said the town is anticipating this to come up next year and should consider adding funds now to prepare.