Follow this closely

Follow Bridgewater closely because this is where Middleboro will be next year.

Override?

Middleboro ATM passed a Fire Dept. budget that eliminated 2 Firefighters' positions and much else.

ATM passed a budget that was $650,000 in deficit.
The school dept. NEEDS and MUST HAVE $750,000 for Special Ed.

That's $1.4 MILLION ABOVE PROJECTED REVENUES.

And the Middleboro Selectmen just keep right on hiring and creating new positions
with no economizing!

Where is Selectman Spataro and COMPRESSION when we need him?


Bridgewater faces tough choices on budget

By Enterprise staff
BRIDGEWATER — It's decision time in Bridgewater.

Tonight, at a town meeting that is expected to be both exhausting and emotional, residents will decide how to cope with a $1.5 million budget shortfall.

The cuts are required after two failed attempts to pass a tax override.

Although recommended cuts have been made by Municipal Administrator Paul Sullivan and selectmen Chairman Herb Lemon, several town officials are unsure exactly which cuts will be finalized tonight.

That is because the proposed cuts were not voted upon or reviewed by either the town's advisory board or the entire Board of Selectmen.

Also, Sullivan and selectmen said they have identified a one-time cash infusion of nearly $1 million that should help minimize the damage.

A large share of that money would come from the sale of town property.

Several departments could be affected by the cuts, but under the current proposals, the library would be dealt a crippling $327,856 cut.
Library officials plan to make a presentation to town meeting on how to save their institution.

Tonight, they won't be alone, as several department heads are expected to make their cases before residents decide who gets what.
http://enterprise.southofboston.com/articles/2007/10/09/news/news/news11.txt