Plymouth County Approves FY27 Budget, Celebrates Debt-Free Status and Drastic Liability Reductions

PLYMOUTH - May 7, 2026 - The Plymouth County Commission unanimously approved a robust Fiscal Year 2027 budget on Thursday, anchored by the announcement that the county remains entirely debt-free while successfully slashing tens of millions of dollars from its long-term retirement liabilities.

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During the May 7 meeting, Treasurer Tom O’Brien delivered an overwhelmingly positive financial report, presenting an FY27 budget that manages to fund new regional services without tapping into stabilization funds. At the core of the county’s financial health is the total elimination of its debt, a rare achievement in municipal government that directly lowers the financial burden on the member towns within Plymouth County.

“Once again I think it behooves us to remind our constituency that we have no debt, we paid off all our debt, we are debt free.” [38:51] — Treasurer Tom O’Brien

O’Brien highlighted the monumental strides made in pre-funding the county’s Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) and retirement systems. Over the past 12 years, the county’s OPEB liability has been cut in half, dropping from $32 million to $16 million. Similarly, the overall pension liability plummeted from $36 million down to $9 million [57:11]. By 2032, these retirement costs are projected to decrease by 67%, significantly shielding member communities from future fiscal shock.