COHASSET - March 31, 2026 - The Cohasset Select Board and Advisory Committee voted to recommend a $65.6 million FY27 operating budget following a rigorous joint session aimed at “rightsizing” municipal departments. While the board celebrated a maintained AAA bond rating and competitive interest rates, the meeting was underscored by warnings from school officials regarding “major cuts” and intense deliberation over significant salary adjustments for several town department heads. The board also moved to reject two high-profile citizens’ petitions—one seeking to halt a cell tower in Wheelright Park and another targeting noise control—while deferring a non-binding decarbonization resolution to the Town Meeting floor.
The Full Story
The primary focus of Tuesday’s session was Article 4, the Town’s FY27 operating budget. Interim Town Manager Michelle Leary presented a balanced budget of $65,063,929, emphasizing a strategy of transparency and department “rightsizing”. Leary explained that this year’s budget process involved moving stipends and incentives directly into base salary lines to provide a clearer picture of total compensation for future financial planning, including a potential override in FY28.
