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Plymouth town manager lays out $308.7 million general fund proposal, flags multimillion-dollar shortfall and cuts
Summary
Town Manager Derek Brindisi presented the recommended FY2027 budget, showing a Select Board general fund recommendation of about $308.7 million and a $4.97 million gap; the proposal lists targeted departmental reductions, rising health insurance costs, and limited options given union constraints.
Derek Brindisi, Plymouth town manager, on Feb. 19 presented the town manager's recommended FY2027 budget to the Committee of Precinct Chairs, outlining a Select Board-recommended general fund of roughly $308.7 million and a total town budget of about $343.2 million including off-budget items.
The presentation said the town faces a multi-million-dollar gap driven by rising health insurance and fixed costs. Brindisi and Finance Director Lynne Barrett described a projected shortfall after accounting for new revenues and one-time sources: slides showed a difference of about $4.97 million between identified available funds and recommended expenditures, with proposed town cuts of approximately $3.74 million and school reductions of about $1.23 million.
Barrett and Brindisi flagged health insurance as a major pressure on FY27 planning and noted the town's reliance on property taxes (about 73% of revenues) and new growth for capacity. To reduce the gap, the manager's materials listed specific line-item reductions and initiatives under consideration: proposed cuts in information technology personnel and expense lines, reductions to police equipment and cruisers, adjustments to fire personnel initiatives, DPW testing reductions, vacancy savings, and other departmental expense trims. The slides also showed nearly $2.0 million in grant and revolving-fund offsets available to departments.
The presentation emphasized constraints on possible responses. Brindisi told precinct chairs he was open to exploring outsourcing or issuing an RFI for IT services but cautioned that union agreements covering seven bargaining units limit rapid staffing changes and that service levels must be preserved. Barrett urged members to review the detailed backup posted on the town website for each warrant article and capital request.
The budget packet included multi-year charts of excess levy capacity, new growth contributions (noting Pinehills/Redbrook shares), free cash balances, and departmental trends used to justify recommended adjustments. The Select Board's slide summary placed the total general fund recommendation at about $308.7 million and the grand total budget (including enterprise and off-budget items) at roughly $343.2 million.
The Committee did not take votes on the warrant articles at the meeting; members asked questions and discussed priorities, and Brindisi encouraged precinct chairs to consult the posted backup before Town Meeting.
