Bridgewater Finance Committee Recommends FY27 Budget, Calls for Multi-Year Fiscal Planning

BRIDGEWATER — May 5, 2026 — Bridgewater Finance Committee approves FY27 budget recommendations amid warnings of unsustainable benefit cost growth. The two-member quorum voted 2-0 Tuesday to send the annual town budget, two enterprise funds, an authorization of revolving funds, and a town clerk salary order to the Town Council, but not before Finance Committee Chair Madden and fellow members urged immediate work on multi-year planning. Former Finance Committee member John Higgins of 27 Bennonati Farm Road told the body during public comment that the town's unfunded employee and retiree benefit liability now stands at approximately $78 million and is growing at roughly 13 percent per year, while the school side carries a $145 million unfunded liability of which Bridgewater bears about $87 million. Total education spending in FY27 exceeds $44.6 million, up roughly 15 percent over FY26. A school representative identified as Mr. Casanoa Davis said the district faces a $4 million gap between its proposed and likely funded budget but is "cautiously optimistic" that health insurance savings — the actual renewal rate came in at 7.4 percent against a projected 15 percent — combined with elimination of open positions will prevent further staff cuts. The committee also flagged the transfer station enterprise fund as having reached its break-even point and called for a community process to examine privatization options in the next fiscal year.