Hadley Boards Confront $600,000 Budget Shortfall, Possible 10-Position Cuts in FY27

HADLEY -- December 17, 2025, Hadley's multi-board budget session projects a $600,000 shortfall and up to 11 layoffs for FY27. Town Finance Director Linda told a joint session of the Select Board, Finance Committee, School Committee, and Board of Assessors Wednesday that operational department budgets must collectively fall by roughly $900,000 because the town will not draw on the $846,000 in free cash it used in FY26 to cover a late health insurance spike, while projected local receipts are down $200,000, retirement contributions are rising by $240,000, and health insurance costs are climbing at least 15 percent. "Even though we have a million more to work with, we have the benefits and retirement health insurance line taking up, over two years, $1.3 million of that increase," she said. The Select Board also unanimously created a new Master Police Officer rank and appointed retiring Officer John Robitaille, who has ALS, as its sole holder, effective December 20, after 26 years of service. State Senator Jo Comerford attended to brief the board on the troubled Hampshire County Group Insurance Trust, which has absorbed member-unit reserve balances into operating expenses and will require rate increases to rebuild, with no state bailout secured.