Bridgewater Finance Subcommittee Hears Full Briefing on Capital Plan and Debt

Finance Committee · Meeting of February 10, 2026

Bridgewater's Finance Committee Capital Planning Subcommittee received a detailed tutorial on town capital budgeting, debt, and revenue at its February 10 remote meeting. Treasurer-Collector Scott Boyce and Finance Director Laurie Garini told the two-member panel — the chair and member Greg Ragnall, with Dr. Bennett absent — that the town's capital stabilization fund received $2.4 million from last year's $4.4 million free cash figure, and that a separate $1.5 million capital appropriation cleared the town council in December 2025.

Garini noted the town's roughly $82 million operating budget draws about 80 percent of revenue from property taxes, with state aid at roughly 7 percent and local receipts at another 7 percent; the ambulance receipts reserve, currently holding about $3.1 million, is expected to contribute approximately $2.3 million to the general fund in fiscal year 2027. Boyce said new 20-year municipal bonds are currently pricing at roughly a 5 percent coupon for the first decade, and credited the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust's State Revolving Fund with saving the town approximately $10 million on its $40 million wastewater treatment plant authorization. The subcommittee's next meeting is set for February 24, when school district finance staff are expected to complete the two-part capital planning overview.

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Source: the Finance Committee meeting of February 10, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.