WARWICK — As Warwick continues to fine-tune its fiscal year 2027 budget, town leadership is also in the midst of a transition.
Diana Noble, former Finance Committee chair and current School Committee chair, has stepped in as assistant town coordinator during the retirement process for longtime Town Coordinator David Young and while the town searches for a successor. She said she is currently working between 10 and 15 hours per week to “pull some of the pressure off and give the town a chance to make a transition.”
Young has been serving as town coordinator for 20 years, and served several terms on the Selectboard before that.
The advertisement for the open position has been posted on the Warwick town website at warwickma.org/general/warwick-seeking-town-coordinator-applicants. According to the job description, the position serves under the policy direction of the Selectboard, and effectively functions as the municipality’s chief operating officer, managing communications, project oversight and interdepartmental coordination. The salary is estimated at around $80,000 per year, but will be determined by experience.
Those who are interested in applying are asked to submit a resume and cover letter with supporting documents as a PDF attachment to tc-app@town.warwick.ma.us. According to Selectboard member Keith Ross, the position will be “open until it’s filled.”
Ross, reading portions of the job description to describe what an ideal candidate might look like, said “we’re seeking a versatile and experienced town coordinator. … The coordinator manages the day-to-day operations and long-term projects of the town government.” The job description notes that while a degree in public administration or a related field may be helpful, the town also values real-world experience in municipal operations, administration or related responsibilities, so relevant experience may be a substitute for formal education.
It’s also possible that the role may be divided between multiple individuals to fulfill the full needs of the position. Noble has expressed interest in continuing to work between five and 15 hours weekly.
Budget discussions
The search for a new town coordinator comes as town officials are working together to finalize a fiscal year 2027 budget to present to Annual Town Meeting voters in May, with rising health insurance costs posing a challenge. Although they are still working on a budget figure for FY27, the operating budget for FY26 sits at nearly $2.96 million.
In FY26, health insurance rates rose by about 40%, and the cost is expected to rise by another 12.48% heading into FY27. The cost of health insurance, paired with the purchase of a new fire truck, made the “Fixed Costs” line item — defined as borrowing, health insurance and other expenses — increase by 89% from $302,000 to $572,000.
Residents at the town election in May 2024 had approved a ballot question for a $480,000 Proposition 2½ override to purchase a new fire engine to replace its 35-year-old engine. This amount supplemented a $200,000 transfer from the Stabilization Fund.
Ross explained that, as a smaller town, Warwick receives a low level of state funding, about $650,000. Noble echoed this sentiment, saying that state funding is “not keeping pace with expenses.”
“It’s a challenge, but everyone is working together,” Ross said of crafting the FY27 budget.
Ross celebrated the efforts of the Fire Department to seek grants to equip the new fire truck and pay for various trainings.
“We’re fortunate to have a great group of leaders in these areas of town government that we rely upon to help us meet these needs,” Ross said.
Both Ross and Selectboard member Brian Snell mentioned a need to increase spending for the snow and ice budget for winter road maintenance, following a season of unpredictable weather. This increase will be reflected in the FY27 budget.
Not including health insurance increases, Noble said the education budget will increase by less than 1%, from $1,535,642 in FY26 to $1,542,467 in FY27.
Moving forward, Noble said the Finance Committee still has some “difficult discussions” ahead, and Snell expressed concern over the impact any budget increases might have on elderly people in Warwick, stating that for some people, “it’s a matter of just getting by.”
“It’s tough for everybody,” he said, “but for the folks who can’t afford to heat their home, who can’t afford to eat regularly … it is concerning.”
