East Bridgewater Town Meeting Passes $62.5 Million Fiscal Year 2025 Budget

Approves Funding for Police, Fire, Schools, and Infrastructure Projects

EAST BRIDGEWATER, MA - May 13 - The East Bridgewater Town Meeting approved a $62,514,869 budget for fiscal year 2025. The budget includes funding for various town departments and projects, with the majority of the funds coming from property taxes, state aid, and local receipts.

The budget was presented by the Finance Committee and recommended by the Town Administrator and Town Accountant. The budget process involved a line-by-line review of each department's expenses and revenues, with adjustments made based on historical spending and anticipated needs.

"The Finance Committee really appreciates the collective efforts of all the town departments, and especially the town administrator and town accountant in working together to get this budget put together," said Finance Committee Chair Mr. Pica. "There were definitely some headwinds in front of the town this year, but everyone came together and I thank everyone for their willingness to cooperate."

The budget includes funding for the town's schools, public safety departments, public works, and other essential services. The budget also includes funding for capital projects, such as the purchase of new equipment for the fire department and upgrades to the town's infrastructure.

One resident, Joseph Hayes, expressed concerns about the budget and the impact on taxpayers. "I'm not really seeing any return on the taxes in the town," Hayes said. "You guys are asking for the select board to get more money in the past three years, but I'm not really seeing any development in town or improvement."

Town officials responded by explaining that the budget is balanced and that the town is limited in its ability to raise taxes due to Proposition 2 1/2. The town is also working to attract new development and businesses to increase its tax base.

Finance Committee member Mr. Walsh stated "What we can develop, we're developing. We are landlocked, we are landlocked here away from the highways, we don't have a municipal sewer system. We're not getting a lot of industrial base."

The budget includes funding for the town's library, with $5,029 added to the library's budget for other expenses, bringing the total library budget to $661,455. The town also approved funding for the restoration and archival framing of items located at the East Bridgewater Public Library.

In addition to the budget, the town meeting also approved several other articles, including the acceptance of donated land, changes to the town's poultry bylaw, and amendments to the town's zoning bylaws.

The town meeting was attended by various town officials and residents, with discussions and debates on various articles lasting several hours. The meeting was moderated by the Town Moderator, who ensured that all articles were properly presented and voted on.

Overall, the approval of the fiscal year 2025 budget ensures that the town of East Bridgewater can continue to provide essential services and invest in its future, while also being mindful of the impact on taxpayers. The budget process involved a collaborative effort between town officials and departments, with input from residents and stakeholders.