Raynham Prepares for Special Town Election on School Budget Override
RAYNHAM - June 10 - The Raynham Board of Selectmen is preparing for a special town election on June 24 where voters will decide whether to approve a $3.9 million Proposition 2½ override to fully fund the town's share of the Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School District budget.
During Tuesday's meeting, the board unanimously approved and signed the special town election warrant and authorized an informational mailing to all Raynham households about the upcoming vote.
Town Clerk Marsha Sylvia provided details about voting options for the June 24 election, which will be held at Raynham Middle School from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
"We have everything that's available is available," Sylvia said, referring to multiple voting methods.
In-person early voting will be available in the Town Hall meeting room on June 16-18 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and June 20 from 9 a.m. to noon. The deadline to register to vote was Friday, June 13th.
Applications for no-excuse vote-by-mail ballots must be submitted by June 16 at 5 p.m., while absentee ballot applications are due by noon on June 23.
Superintendent Ryan Powers presented information about the school district's budget situation, explaining that expenses are growing faster than revenue, creating financial pressure.
"We have several cost drivers that are really causing quite a squeeze in our budget and subsequently the town's budget," Powers said.
Powers identified key factors driving budget increases, including health insurance costs, which rose 15 percent this year after negotiating down from an initial 20 percent increase. The district has seen significant growth in high-claims costs, up $2.3 million from the previous year.
Student enrollment has increased by more than 400 students over the past five years, with special education needs growing from 16 percent to 20 percent of the student population. The district currently has 47 students in out-of-district placements, including 16 more than last year.
"When we look at the transportation costs, one van for a student can be anywhere from $65,000 to $75,000," Powers said, adding that tuition at many day programs costs a similar amount.
If the override passes, the district plans to enhance special education programming and reduce class sizes. The current average class sizes are 26 students per class in Raynham and 28 in Bridgewater for grades K-8.
"We want to make sure that our class sizes are manageable for our teachers," Powers said.
If voters reject the override, Powers warned of significant impacts, including larger class sizes potentially reaching the 30s at elementary levels and 40s at the high school. The district might need to cut up to 40 electives and consider self-funding athletics and extracurricular activities, which could cost families $900 to $1,000 per sport.
Finance Director Chris LaViolette explained the tax impact of the proposed override. For the average single-family home valued at $589,581, the annual tax increase would be approximately $636.75.
LaViolette clarified the difference between a debt exclusion and an override, noting that an override represents a permanent increase to the tax base.
"An override is a permanent increase in the tax base. So in this instance of fiscal ‘26, we want to permanently raise the tax base an additional $3,938,000," LaViolette said.
The town plans to add a tax impact calculator to its website to help residents determine the specific impact on their property taxes.
Jennifer Oldfield from the Board of Assessors provided information about tax exemptions and deferrals available to seniors, veterans, and others who may qualify. These include various exemptions for elderly residents, disabled veterans, and surviving spouses.
"I would suggest anybody who thinks they may qualify, they can contact the assessor's office," Oldfield said, noting that all exemptions must be filed annually.
Selectman Joseph Pacheco cautioned residents about tax deferrals, which come with interest charges.
"I would encourage, as I'm sure Jen and her team would, if folks are looking at a deferment, they should strongly talk to their family, their loved ones or a financial advisor," Pacheco said.
In other business, the board approved a cost-of-living adjustment for call firefighters, increasing their pay from $18 to $20 per hour. The call firefighters had not received an increase since 2019.
The board also authorized filling a vacant firefighter position following a resignation and approved several one-day alcohol permits for Tropical Llama at 1470 New State Highway for various events from June through August.
Town Administrator Gregory Barnes reported that the town had applied for a $500,000 MassWorks grant to upgrade Paramount Drive, making it more accessible and safer for pedestrians. The North Raynham Water District also applied for a $5 million grant for water piping along Route 138.
The meeting concluded with a resident alerting the board about a large development project proposed in neighboring Bridgewater that could impact Raynham's resources, including the town's Zone 2 aquifer and emergency services.
Watch the complete meeting courtesy of The Raynham Channel.
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