Littleton Faces $915,000 Insurance Spike as FY26 Budget Hearings Begin

LITTLETON -- January 21, 2025, Littleton opens FY26 budget hearings with a projected $915,000 health insurance increase and a new school savings pact. The Joint Finance Committee and Select Board convened January 21 to hear presentations from eight departments, with officials disclosing that employee health insurance premiums are expected to rise 15 percent for active employees and 17.5 percent for retirees, a $915,481 increase that Finance Director Ryan called the highest rate he has ever budgeted. A separate agreement struck last week with the School Department commits schools to funding their own capital items from school choice reserves at roughly $400,000 per year, freeing equivalent town dollars for the Shaker Lane school building stabilization fund, which is projected to reach $3.2 million after $1.6 million in free cash transfers this fiscal year. Library Director Sam Alvarez won approval for a new teen librarian at $55,434 but lost her bid for a full-time adult services librarian. Human Resources Director Michelle Webert sought to convert an unfilled 19-hour position into a full-time assistant HR director at an incremental $54,451, drawing skepticism from committee members who said any new FTE request starts at "no." LCTV Director Mark warned that cable franchise revenues from Comcast and Verizon are declining and the station's reserve could run dry within two to three years absent a new funding source.