Personnel Board presses for quick COLA costings and debates quadrennial classification study funding

The Personnel Board discussed FY27 budget timing, COLA options and how to handle the statutorily‑timed quadrennial classification review.

Brian reported departmental FY27 budgets are due Dec. 15 and asked the board to provide guidance on any grid changes three weeks earlier to avoid end‑of‑cycle adjustments. Board members requested that Brian produce financial impacts for possible percentage increases (examples discussed included 1–3% COLA and alternate scenarios) and provide a Central Massachusetts inflation metric for context.

On the quadrennial classification review required by the town bylaw, the board debated three options: amending the bylaw to remove the prior requirement, commissioning a full scope external classification study, or performing a narrower targeted study. Some members were wary of paying for large outside studies after prior experiences; Mark suggested getting ranges for consultant costs and possibly funding a study as a separate town meeting article using free cash so the work could commence earlier.

Next steps: Brian will return cost estimates for COLA scenarios and inflation data within days; Mark will gather cost ranges for classification study options and report back so the board can decide whether to include the study in its FY27 budget or put it on the town meeting warrant.