Bridgewater-Raynham committee approves $98.6 million FY26 operating budget, sets capital and debt assessments

The Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School Committee on Thursday approved a $98,596,693 operating budget for fiscal year 2026, voting 6–2 to send the figure to the towns for their action and setting separate votes on capital and debt assessments that the towns must also consider.

The vote came at an emergency continuation meeting called by Chair Rachel King to meet a June 30 deadline set by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The adopted operating figure excludes capital and debt; the motion on the floor specified the amounts to be apportioned to the member towns based on October 1, 2024, enrollment figures.

The approved operating total was described in the motion as a final budget of $98,596,693, reduced by anticipated revenues of $37,985,022 and an E&D appropriation of $2,000,800, leaving a net assessment to the member towns. The motion listed the apportionments as $22,333,568 due from Raynham and $35,478,103 due from Bridgewater. The motion was made by School Committee member Erika Davenport and seconded by Michael Fitzgibbons; the roll call produced a 6–2 outcome and the motion passed.

Nut graf: The committee moved after weeks of public debate and two failed override votes in the member towns. Superintendent Powers told the committee that the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is “concerned that we will not have a budget…