East Bridgewater Braces for 2% Budget Cut
Officials Seek Pension Relief to Avert ‘Service Cuts’
EAST BRIDGEWATER - Dec. 8 - Facing a grim financial outlook for Fiscal Year 2027, Town Administrator Charlie Seelig has directed all municipal departments to prepare for a 2% budget reduction, while simultaneously forming a coalition of towns to ask Plymouth County to restructure pension liabilities to avoid deep cuts to public services.
The Full Story
The “Fiscal Cliff” looming over East Bridgewater is coming into sharper focus. During the December 8 Select Board meeting, Town Administrator Charlie Seelig laid out a stark reality: without significant structural changes to how the town pays its pension obligations, residents could face noticeable reductions in town services.
Seelig announced that he has instructed department heads to submit FY27 budgets that reflect a 2% decrease in actual dollars compared to the current year [55:53]. To enforce this, he is requiring detailed spreadsheets justifying every base salary, stipend, and overtime hour.
“We need to aim to have everything in for the May town meeting and not have departments expect that we’ll have a town meeting in the fall... that will suddenly have money,” Seelig warned [57:42].
The root of the pressure lies with the Plymouth County Retirement Board’s funding schedule, which currently requires member towns to be fully funded by 2031. This aggressive timeline forces astronomical annual assessment increases. Seelig is proposing a solution: extending the payment schedule to 2040, the maximum allowed by state law.
Seelig revealed he has contacted colleagues in neighboring communities to form a coalition. He is requesting the Retirement Board perform a new actuarial calculation—costing roughly $7,500 total for all towns—to determine how much annual relief a 2040 extension would provide [34:41].
“Our assessment... will go down dramatically [after 2031],” Seelig explained. “Problem for us... is that while we’re doing that, we may suffer some service cuts in order to make the payments... We’d like to take a look at the possibility of extending the payment schedule so that the payments would be a little bit less.” [34:11]
While the Board unanimously supported exploring the extension, the immediate future remains tight. Seelig noted he does not expect “any rescue from the state,” emphasizing that FY27 will require strict fiscal discipline.
“I don’t expect any rescue from the state... If we’re going to make cuts, we’d want to know why we’re making cuts or where we’re making cuts.” — Charlie Seelig [59:59]
Library to Take Over Passports
In a move described as a “no-brainer” by Chair Peter Spagone [26:53], the Board discussed moving passport processing services from the Veterans Services office to the Public Library. The Library Director presented a plan to promote a part-time circulation assistant to a full-time outreach librarian using the revenue generated from passport fees.
The Director estimated the service could generate between $62,000 and $85,000 annually, covering the cost of the position and potentially netting revenue for the General Fund [21:50]. The move is designed to increase accessibility for residents, offering evening and weekend hours that the Veterans Agent cannot provide.
Why It Matters
The 2% budget cut directive signals that the town is entering a period of austerity. For residents, this could mean fewer staff in town hall, reduced hours, or delayed maintenance on town infrastructure. The pension restructuring is a high-stakes gamble: if successful, it smooths out tax burdens though increasing total costs over time; if rejected by the County, the town must find the cash elsewhere—likely through service reductions.
Official Minutes & Data
Key Motions & Votes
Appointments to Boards & Commissions
Motion: To appoint Lisa DeAngelo (Council on Aging), Paul Damon (Conservation Commission), and Stacy Chen, Eugene Caruso, and Shelley Bonamy (Arts Council).
Outcome: Passed Unanimously
Vote: 2-0 (Katherine Mullen absent) [[27:23]]
Town Meeting Scheduling
Motion: To schedule the Special and Annual Town Meeting for Monday, May 11, 2026, and close the warrant on January 5, 2026.
Outcome: Passed Unanimously
Vote: 2-0 [[29:25]]
Designer Selection Procedures
Motion: To accept designer selection procedures for the Public Safety Building feasibility study.
Outcome: Passed Unanimously
Vote: 2-0 [[30:18]]
Gordon W. Mitchell School Roof Project
Motion: To pass on the current round of MSBA funding for the Mitchell School roof, windows, and doors project.
Context: The roof is not yet old enough to qualify for full replacement; the town prefers to wait 3-4 years to do the entire project at once.
Outcome: Passed Unanimously
Vote: 2-0 [[33:12]]
Public Comment
Hayward Road Dispute: Residents George and Natalia Doucette (Hayward Road) appeared to contest a cease and desist letter regarding sheds allegedly encroaching on town property. Doucette argued that surveys are inconsistent and requested a compromise or a definitive town survey before being forced to move structures.
Response: The Board agreed to have the Building Inspector review the matter and report back at the Dec. 22 meeting. [[03:25]]
What’s Next
Dec. 22: Next Select Board Meeting.
Jan. 5: Deadline for Town Meeting Warrant Articles.
Action Item: Town Administrator to coordinate with other towns to request actuarial data from Plymouth County Retirement Board.
Source Video: EBCAM (East Bridgewater Community Access Media)