Choose Granite Countertops Near Me Bridgewater, MA for Elegance and Durability

If the Bridgewater Town Council says yes to the B-R School Committee’s request for an additional $850,000, how will the town pay for it?

Back on June 26, the B-R school committee — in the face of failed overrides in both Bridgewater and Raynham — approved a compromise budget that would give the schools far less money than the overrides would have provided but would still require more money from each town than they previously agreed to.

Bridgewater Town Manager Justin Casanova-Davis, who officially started on the job just this month, presented a proposal at the July 15 Council meeting for a hiring freeze and funding transfers to pay for the schools' assessment increase.

Casanova-Davis said in his letter to the Council his recommended plan is based on the short timeframe the town has to vote on the additional allocation, which has to be approved for appropriation by the school district no later than Aug. 11 in order for the district’s budget to be ratified by the state.

Recommended cuts? Any layoffs?

The proposal doesn't include any layoffs. Instead Casanova-Davis is proposing a freeze on filling some new or vacant positions for anywhere from six months to indefinitely.

These positions to be frozen under the proposal include:

A few positions were recommended to have their hours reduced, including the assistant to the treasurer/collector and the executive assistant to the town manager.

Altogether, the freezing of positions and reducing of hours for other positions will yield close to $350,000 in savings for the town, to be allocated for the school budget assessment increase.

Savings on insurance

Casanova-Davis said in his letter the projected health and life insurance savings from freezing these positions will yield over $50,000 for the fiscal year, which will also go towards paying for the school budget assessment increase.

$450K out of employee liability fund

More than half of the amount needed to reach the $850,000 goal entails taking money out of the town’s employee liability stabilization fund. This account is used for sick time and vacation time payouts associated with staff terminations or resignations.

Currently, the employee liability stabilization fund contains $503,221, said Casanova-Davis. He is proposing taking $450,000 from this fund for the plan.

Said Casanova-Davis in his letter to Town Council: “We are not making this decision lightly to utilize the employee liability trust fund, as the best practice is to avoid the use of non-recurring, or one-time, revenue sources to fund recurring expenses, which can ultimately lead to a structural deficit within the budget."

"However, we believe this is the prudent recommendation at this time, as we work to evaluate other opportunities to address savings in the FY26 budget, and ultimately a fiscally responsible FY27 budget.”

Where does Raynham stand?

B-R’s new school district budget proposal requires approval from both Bridgewater and Raynham.

Raynham’s Select Board scheduled a special town meeting for Tuesday, Aug. 5, at Raynham Middle School, to vote on funding the town’s portion of the new assessment increase.

Though Raynham’s increase was $714,000, the vote the special town meeting will only be asked to provide an additional $158,341 due to funding the town previously set aside for capital project costs, and approved at the May 18 special town meeting, which the school administration and school committee decided instead to use for the district’s operating budget.

Raynham Town Administrator Gregory Barnes previously said at the July 8 Select Board meeting this funding decision by the school district was discussed with and sanctioned by the town administration beforehand.

Next steps for Bridgewater

The majority of Bridgewater town councilors when they first talked about the new B-R school district budget proposal, back on June 30, expressed interest in approving the funding. No members spoke out against supporting the new amount.

The Town Council on July 15 voted to refer the town manager’s proposal to pay for the assessment increase to the Finance Committee for review and recommendation.

Town Council also asked Casanova-Davis to schedule a new budget hearing and subsequent vote on the proposal and school funding increase for some time in the first week of August.

Bridgewater and Raynham voters will be heading to the polls in the next few days to decide the fate of a pair of high stakes Proposition 2 1/2 overrides that would add hundreds of dollars to annual property tax bills to avert "devastating" cuts in B-R schools.

Bridgewater's override election will be held Saturday, June 21, followed close behind by Raynham's election on Tuesday, June 24.

“What’s happening is the cost of the schools' core needs is outpacing the revenues that communities can allot. To avoid a critical step back of the progress the schools have made, this is needed,” said Dennis Gallagher, state representative for 8^th Plymouth District, representing Bridgewater and Raynham. Gallagher adds he’s in support of the overrides.

Proposition 2.5 overrides are notoriously difficult to pass.

Here are all the facts regarding the upcoming special town elections both communities are holding:

What is a Proposition 2 1/2 Override?

Under a Massachusetts law called Proposition 2 1/2, cities and towns can only increase the amount of money they collect through property taxes each year by 2.5% plus an amount corresponding to how much "new growth" the city or town has seen.

If a town wants to increase its property tax revenue by more than 2.5% plus new growth, a majority of voters must approve a Proposition 2 1/2 override at the ballot box.

When and where are the Special Town Elections?

Bridgewater will hold its Special Town Election on Saturday, June 21, from 7a.m. – 8 p.m. The polling location is Bridgewater Middle School, 166 Mount Prospect St.

Raynham will hold its Special Town Election on Tuesday, June 24, from 10a.m. – 8 p.m. The polling location is Raynham Middle School, 420 Titicut Road.

How much is being voted on?

How and why did this vote come about?

The Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School District’s budget is funded by both towns, as well as state aid.

Due to continuing inflation and shortfalls in state aid to the school district, back on March 26, the Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School Committee voted to increase the district's budget for the 2025-2026 school year by 17%, totaling a budget of $106 million.

The school committee requested from Bridgewater an increase of $7.6 million or 23% and from Raynham an increase of $4.6 million, or 22%.

This amount was many times higher than what the towns of Bridgewater and Raynham both indicated they would be able to fund — an increase of 4.7% from Bridgewater and 3% from Raynham, respectively.

Superintendent of Schools Ryan Powers, speaking on behalf of the Administration and School Committee, said he realizes the impact this override will have on families.

“It’s not lost on us,” he said, but “the budget is reflective of the needs of the district, and what the kids deserve.”

How much will this cost taxpayers?

According to assessments done by both towns, the impact on property taxes for residents if the overrides were to pass are as follows:

Both towns have tax estimate calculators for this vote on their town websites if residents want to get the exact additional amount of property taxes they will be paying with this override.

Gallagher, the state representative, said he believes voters “need to look at what quality of education do they want for their community” when they go to the polls to decide on the override. He adds it’s a tough personal choice, “everyone’s financial situation is different,” and ‘it’s a pretty big increase.”

What happens to the schools without the override?

In a May 1, 2025, letter to the school community, Superintendent Powers said dozens of layoffs are on the table, between 30-45, if the override does not pass.

Powers said the district cut 24 positions before the start of the current school year, and, coupled with the threat of 30-45 more cuts, means losing between 55-70 positions over two years. He called that “devastating” and said that “greatly impacts our ability to provide our students with the education they deserve.”

Powers said at Raynham Town Meeting the school district has grown by 400 students over the past five years to its current enrollment of 5,682, and “expenses are growing faster than our revenue," especially for transportation costs and special education, which, he said, presently comprises 20% of the district’s student population.

Presentations at B-R School committee meetings said enrollment increases have led to large class sizes, and if the district can’t bring back those 30-40 positions then class sizes will reach as high as 45, depending on grade.

In addition, as many as 40 elective classes won’t be offered to high school students due to lack of available teachers.

If the override passes, the re-hiring or reestablishing of 30-40 positions can keep classroom sizes down to a high of 27.

What happens if just one town OKs override?

Because it is a regional school district, both towns would have to approve overrides for B-R to get the increased funding. However, even if Bridgewater rejects its override Saturday, the Raynham override vote isn’t cancelled. Both votes will happen, which will determine how the school district moves forward.

What are the options if both towns don't pass override?

A special B-R school committee meeting is currently scheduled for Wednesday, June 25 at 7 p.m., in the auditorium of Raynham Middle School, where Powers said they will discuss options for the district if at least one of the override votes fails.

Powers told the Gazette there are several different options on the table for the School Committee to decide on, and “it really is a series of dominos” as the outcome of the votes will influence how the district moves forward.

If one town votes for the override, but not the other, Powers said there would be an opportunity for the opposing side to reconsider or put forth a new override vote.

Powers said, whatever the outcome, it’s important that residents just get out and vote.

Logan Williams is putting the cap on a resurgent 2024-2025 season for East Bridgewater High School football.

The senior wide receiver and defensive back has been selected to the 47th annual 2025 Shriner All-Star Classic. It's a special selection for both Williams and the football program as he is the first player at East Bridgewater to be selected to the game since Jake Peterson in 2016.

The Shriner's All-Star Classic involes graduating high school football student-athletes from eastern Massachusetts. Players from both north and south of Boston high schools are selected to the game. This year's all-star game will take place on Friday, June 13 at Hormel Stadium in Medford at 7 p.m.

"It's just a big honor. It's a privilege to represent my town and my team," Williams said.

Williams helped the Vikings to a 4-0 start to the 2024 season. The last time that happened was in 2015. Williams tallied 30 catches for 606 yards and 5 touchdowns, and was named a South Shore League All-Star.

The two-way player scored a 97-yard receiving touchdown in the final game of his high-school career in a win over West Bridgewater the night before Thanksgiving. Against Rockland on Oct. 4, Williams had a highlight-reel play, snagging a one-handed interception and returning it 53 yards for a score.

"If I had to put a name on anybody to represent us in this game there isn't a kid that I've coached that I'd put before Logan," said East Bridgewater head coach Greg O'Sullivan, who just completed his first season with the program.

In the fall, Williams will be attending Stonehill College, where he will pursue a degree in finance, and try to make the Skyhawks football team as a walk-on.

"I want to take it a step further," Williams said. "I want to keep playing the sport I love."

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. — The Eastern equine encephalitis virus has been detected in mosquitoes in Bridgewater, town officials said Wednesday.

The news out of Bridgewater comes one week after state officials announced EEE was detected in mosquitoes in Massachusetts for the first time this year.

State public health officials notified Bridgewater town officials that a mosquito collected on July 22 tested positive for EEE, Town Manager Justin Casanova-Davis said in a statement.

No human or animal cases of EEE have been detected in Massachusetts so far this year.

Bridgewater and most of southeastern Massachusetts are currently classified by the state as low risk for EEE and West Nile Virus, Casanova-Davis said.

Town officials are working closely with state public health officials to monitor the situation, he said.

EEE is a rare but serious and potentially fatal disease that can affect people of all ages.

EEE is generally spread to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. The risk of infection is highest among people younger than 15 or older than 50.

Public health officials shared the following tips to help prevent mosquito bites and the transmission of the virus:

Avoid mosquito bites and be aware of peak mosquito hours. The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many mosquitoes. Consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during the evening, after 6 p.m. or early morning. Otherwise, take extra care to use repellent and protective clothing. Mosquitoes can be active during daylight hours when the temperatures are cool.

Clothing can help reduce mosquito bites. Although it may be difficult to do when it is hot, wearing long sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.

Apply insect repellent when you go outdoors. Use a repellent with DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023) or oil of lemon eucalyptus [p-methane 3, 8-diol (PMD)] according to the instructions on the product label. DEET products should not be used on infants younger than 2 months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30 percent or less on older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children younger than 3 years of age.

Mosquito-proof your Home and drain standing water. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by either draining or getting rid of items that hold water. Check rain gutters and drains. Empty any unused flowerpots and wading pools, and change water in birdbaths frequently.

Install or repair screens. Some mosquitoes like to come indoors. Keep them outside by having tightly fitted screens on all windows and doors.

Protect your animals. Animal owners should reduce potential mosquito breeding sites on their property by eliminating standing water from containers such as buckets, tires, and wading pools – especially after heavy rains.

Water troughs provide excellent mosquito breeding habitats and should be flushed out at least once a week during the summer months to reduce mosquitoes near paddock areas. Horse owners should keep horses in indoor stalls at night to reduce their risk of exposure to mosquitoes. Owners should also speak with their veterinarian about mosquito repellents approved for use in animals and vaccinations to prevent WNV and EEE.

If an animal is suspected of having West Nile Virus or EEE, owners are required to report to the Department of Agricultural Resources, Division of Animal Health by calling 617-626-1795, and to the Department of Public Health by calling 617- 983-6800.

More information, including all West Nile Virus- and EEE-positive results can be found at this website or by calling the DPH Division of Epidemiology at 617-983-6800.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.