Manchester Finance Committee Approves Town Department Budgets, Eyes Permit Fee Hike

MANCHESTER-BY-THE-SEA — February 19, 2026 — Manchester Finance Committee approves multiple FY27 town budgets and flags building permit fees as too low. The committee, chaired by Sarah Mellish, voted unanimously to approve accounts including $2,498,122 for insurance and employee benefits, $2,065,107 in pension expense, $420,000 for the OPEB trust, and $240,788 for the Assessors Office, among others, at its February 19 meeting. The lengthiest debate concerned a proposal to create a new full-time administrative position in the Building Department, funded by raising the town's $6-per-$1,000 building permit fee — unchanged for years — toward the regional average of $11.07. Assessor Michelle told the committee that her assistant now spends "85 percent" of her time on building department work, leaving the assessor to handle most of her own administrative tasks, while permit fee revenue has grown from $183,942 in 2020 to $593,985 in 2025. Town Administrator Tony Violetta confirmed the Select Board has already discussed the fee increase and will take it up formally after further research. Health insurance costs remained unresolved pending a Group Insurance Commission vote expected around February 26, with a 15 percent increase — roughly $270,000 — projected.