COHASSET - February 10, 2026 - Facing a daunting $1.3 million funding gap for the upcoming fiscal year, Cohasset school officials warned residents that maintaining current educational standards will require significant sacrifices, including the potential loss of up to 15 staff positions. While the district has trimmed its initial budget request to an 8.82% increase, the structural reality of rising utility costs and contractual obligations has left the Select Board and School Committee grappling with a “perfect storm” of municipal finance that may eventually necessitate a Proposition 2 ½ override.
The Full Story
The joint meeting began with a somber presentation by Superintendent Dr. Sarah Shannon and School Committee Chair Jen Lesky, who detailed the “evolving” process of drafting the FY27 school budget. Initially, the district identified a need for an 11.88% increase to maintain “level service”—the amount required to provide the same programs and staffing as the current year. Through aggressive fine-tuning of line items, utilizing grant offsets, and drawing down revolving accounts, the district reduced its formal request to 8.82%, or approximately $2.2 million over FY26.
However, the town’s projected revenue allocation for the schools is currently capped at a 3.5% increase (approximately $869,000), leaving a massive $1.3 million deficit. Superintendent Shannon emphasized that because 80% of the school budget is comprised of salaries, closing this gap will inevitably impact “human capital.” Current projections suggest a reduction of 10 to 15 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) positions across the district, ranging from classroom teachers to central office staff.
The fiscal strain is exacerbated by “uncontrollable” costs, most notably utilities. Despite a district-wide decrease in utility usage thanks to efficiency upgrades, the actual costs for heating and electricity have skyrocketed exponentially.
“Every time our utility costs go up, when we have to make reductions, I have to reduce a staff member or the professional development that we need... there’s just our hands are tied when it comes to utilities.” [32:08] — Superintendent Dr. Sarah Shannon
The meeting also saw the return of a long-standing “elephant in the room”: regionalization. Select Board member Paul Grady questioned whether the town should explore merging school districts with neighbors like Hull to address declining enrollment and rising costs. School Committee members expressed skepticism, citing Cohasset’s unique community identity and logistical hurdles, such as Hull’s peninsula geography. Instead, the focus shifted toward a potential multi-year Proposition 2 ½ override for FY28 to provide a sustainable funding path.
Beyond the schools, the Select Board moved to increase Recycle Transfer Facility (RTF) fees to offset rising contractual hauling and disposal costs. The board voted to increase the first all-facilities permit from $150 to $165, while the second permit will rise to $90. Notably, the board approved expanding the veteran discount to include all active duty and retired military personnel regardless of years of service, at the recommendation of Town Clerk Elizabeth Legge.
Why It Matters
For Cohasset residents, the budget crisis represents a direct threat to the “Blue Ribbon” status of the school district. The projected loss of 15 staff positions could lead to larger class sizes at the secondary level and reduced intervention services for students. Furthermore, the discussion of a future override suggests that taxpayers will likely be asked to approve a permanent tax increase within the next 18 months to stabilize both the schools and town services like public safety, which are facing similar structural deficits.
Official Minutes & Data
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: To open the Cohasset Annual Town Meeting 2026 Warrant.
Vote: Unanimous ([01:32:23])
Motion: To approve the All Facilities Permit 2026 Rules and Regulations, including the expansion of the military discount.
Vote: 4-0 ([01:46:16])
Motion: To approve the proposed RTF permit fee increases (First permit $165, Second $90) and bulky waste fee adjustments effective March 1.
Vote: 4-0 ([02:11:03])
Motion: To appoint seven members to the Town Manager Search Committee: Suzanne Averill, Bill Burnett, Jean Healey Dippold, Tim Davis, Paul Grady, Leland Jenkins, and Sarah Shannon.
Outcome: Passed ([02:22:13])
Motion: To approve the advertisement for a new Town Manager with a salary range of $180,000 to $225,000 and a minimum requirement of 5 years of experience.
Vote: Unanimous ([02:29:19])
Public Comment
No residents offered public comments during the designated period at the start of the meeting.
What’s Next
School Budget Hearing: Scheduled for March 18, 2026, at 5:00 PM.
School Committee Budget Vote: March 25, 2026.
Town Meeting Warrant: The Select Board will continue reviewing the 21 currently proposed articles, including MSBA feasibility study funding and fire station design placeholders.
Town Manager Search: The newly appointed search committee will be sworn in following the formalization of their charge, with advertisements for the position set to be distributed immediately.
Source Video: Town of Cohasset - Select Board February 10, 2026