Bridgewater Finance Committee Recommends Approval of FY26 Budget Amid School Funding Shortfall
Committee unanimously recommends $79 million town budget pending override vote
BRIDGEWATER - May 5 - The Bridgewater Finance Committee approved the fiscal year 2026 town budget during their recent meeting, moving forward a $79 million spending plan that falls approximately $6 million short of fully funding the Bridgewater-Raynham School District's certified request.
Town Manager Blythe Robinson presented the budget, explaining that the town's revenue increase for next year is 4.67 percent, which proved insufficient to cover the school district's 15 percent requested increase.
"While I say that this budget is balanced, I would qualify that by saying it doesn't include that $6,034,615.95," Robinson said during the presentation.
The committee learned that the Town Council has already decided on an override amount of $8,272,000, with three-quarters allocated to address the school funding gap. The remaining portion would restore some town-side cuts and fund targeted investments.
Robinson explained that even with the 4.67 percent revenue increase, the town faced challenges balancing the budget due to rising costs in several areas.
"Our obligations to the Plymouth County pension fund were almost 14 percent higher," Robinson noted, adding that health insurance costs increased by 6.75 percent.
To balance the budget without the override, the town eliminated several unfilled positions including a police cadet, firefighter/paramedic, two DPW positions, a deputy building official, and a financial analyst position.
Committee member Rigobert Noel inquired about the need for additional police officers included in the override proposal. Robinson explained that the police chief had requested four officers, but the proposal includes funding for only two.
"In a town of our size, we really should probably have 52 to 55 officers," Robinson said, noting that Bridgewater currently has 45 officers including the chief.
The committee unanimously approved the main budget order with member Mark Thomas abstaining as he joined the meeting partway through the discussion.
The committee also reviewed and approved three enterprise fund budgets. The Water Enterprise Fund budget of $5.298 million passed unanimously, representing about a 2.5 percent increase from the previous year.
During discussion of the $4.35 million Sewer Enterprise Fund budget, Robinson highlighted a significant 370 percent increase in debt service costs due to a federal Environmental Protection Agency consent order requiring the town to remove nitrogen and phosphorus from sewage effluent.
"We're obligated to pay the debt service to make the mandated repairs," Robinson explained, noting that rate increases would likely be necessary.
Finance Director Lori Guerrini clarified that the Department of Corrections has its own wastewater plant and is not connected to the town's system, while Bridgewater State University is connected and pays for its usage.
The Transfer Station Enterprise Fund budget of $464,000 was approved unanimously, with Robinson noting it remains essentially flat from the previous year.
The committee also authorized revolving funds for various departments, including the Council on Aging, Town Clerk, Library, and Recreation Department. Guarini explained that the Recreation revolving fund collects fees from athletic associations and pays for field maintenance and events.
In other business, the committee approved a collective bargaining agreement with the Bridgewater Administrative Association, the smallest of the town's six labor unions. The three-year contract includes 2 percent wage increases each year and requires new employees to pay 25 percent of their health insurance costs instead of the current 20 percent.
"It is important to get increased health insurance from the bargaining units. And this is a step in the right direction to help the town with those increasing costs," Guarini said.
The committee also approved a $10,658 transfer to fund the retroactive portion of the contract for the current fiscal year.
The committee also unanimously approved the acceptance of a conservation restriction for Hanson Farm, protecting 71.79 acres from future development. Robinson explained that the town received a $3 million grant from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs for the project.
"The town is essentially purchasing the development rights for this property. So it cannot be developed into housing or commercial or anything else in the future," Robinson said.
The restriction allows the current owners to continue farming the property while permanently protecting it from development. The state required only a 1 percent match for the grant, which will be funded through Community Preservation Act funds.
The meeting concluded with a brief discussion about a previous committee recommendation against funding for a flagpole project that was subsequently approved by the Town Council despite the committee's advice.
Watch the complete meeting courtesy of the Town of Bridgewater.
Disclosure: Bridgewater Raynham News co-found Matthew Lyford is a member of the Bridgewater Finance Committee.
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