West Bridgewater Finance Committee Reviews Six FY27 Budgets, Targets April Vote

WEST BRIDGEWATER -- February 19, 2026, West Bridgewater Finance Committee reviews six departmental budgets ahead of April vote. The committee heard fiscal year 2027 spending plans at its February 19 meeting, with the water department budget drawing the most attention due to three one-time cost drivers: a transition-assistance line for an incoming superintendent, a $59,000 sick-time buyback for a retiring employee, and roughly $163,000 in new debt service tied to the Manly Street treatment plant coming online. Water Superintendent Wayne, who confirmed he will retire in December, said a certified free-cash surplus of approximately $518,000 means no water rate increase is planned for FY27, though Town Administrator David cautioned that future debt from the Sierra Norman plant, now budgeted at $14 million to $16 million, will eventually require rate adjustments. The data processing budget flagged a sharp increase in technology consultant costs driven by Broadcom's acquisition of VMware, and a $3,500 RAVE emergency-communications contract was discovered to have been inadvertently omitted from the draft and will be corrected in April. The committee's next budget hearings are March 12 and March 19, with the School Department expected March 19 and a formal budget vote targeted for April 2.