Committee recommends end-of-year transfers for water and sewer funds to cover staffing and overtime costs

The Town of Bridgewater Budget & Finance Committee recommended end-of-year budget transfers for the Water and Sewer enterprise funds to address salary and contractual expenses tied to staffing changes.

Staff explained the Water Order (O FY26-072) covers salary and wage allocations after the retirement of a superintendent who had been split between water and sewer; the town hired separate full-time superintendents for each enterprise, creating a need to reallocate salary lines. The committee was told overtime and contractual compensation also contributed to the overages.

A comparable transfer (O FY26-073) was presented for the Sewer Enterprise Fund. Staff said revenues have been tracking and transfers will move through retained earnings to restore salary lines and prevent deficits. Committee members asked questions; motions to recommend both orders were made and seconded and the committee approved them by voice vote.

The committee also reviewed an item covering contractual layoffs and internal rehiring (O FY26-076), confirming payouts for departing employees and that some positions were filled internally. No detailed vote tallies were recorded on the transcript; the committee recommended the orders by voice vote.