Watertown Finance Committee Meeting | September 28, 2026

The Watertown Finance Committee met on September 28, 2026. It approved moving the city’s dental plan to a self-insured model effective January 1, 2027, creating a dental self-insurance fund for 2027, and continuing to use the Delta Dental network with a $5 per employee per month administrative fee. The approved funding rates are $36.50 for single coverage and $113 for family coverage. The discussion described this approach as a way to reduce costs and build reserves while minimizing disruption for plan participants.

The committee also reviewed employee health-plan renewal options. It discussed the recommended Plan 1-4, which removes the lower copay for Dean facilities while retaining the existing deductible and out-of-pocket maximum; estimated savings were about $188,000 across city funds, including about $160,000 for Fund 1. The committee also approved further analysis of a high-deductible health plan option, including whether the city could contribute to an HSA or HRA, with a more specific proposal to return later. The committee entered closed session for fire-union contract negotiations; no bargaining decision was reported in open session. A public commenter thanked the city for investing in firefighter mental-health check-ins and occupational-wellness screenings.