Stoughton Finance Committee Hears FY27 Budget With $2 Million Health Insurance Increase

STOUGHTON -- March 18, 2026, Stoughton Finance Committee hears $2 million health insurance spike and regional school assessment increases at FY27 budget hearings. The committee met Wednesday in an extended public hearing session, receiving presentations on more than a dozen budget lines and capital articles ahead of the May 4 Annual and Special Town Meetings. The most significant figure of the evening was a projected $14 million health insurance appropriation for fiscal year 2027, up roughly $2 million from fiscal year 2026, driven by a 65 percent rate increase in the town's retiree Aetna Medicare plan effective January 2026. Assistant Town Manager Mark Tisdell credited HR Director Deanna Chatzko and workforce reductions of approximately 30 municipal employees over three years, at a per-employee cost of roughly $24,000, for preventing even larger increases. Stoughton's assessment to Southeastern Regional Vocational-Technical School is projected at approximately $1,565,892, an increase of roughly $270,500 reflecting seven additional Stoughton students. The committee also heard a $400,000 capital request for final design of a roundabout at the Park Street and Turnpike Street intersection, drawing public opposition from Precinct 2 resident Lisa Lyons; Town Engineer Mark Strzok warned that MassDOT holds authority over the state highway corridor and could proceed with the roundabout design independently if Stoughton declines to participate. The hearing was continued to Thursday, March 19, at 7 p.m.