Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School Committee Votes to Reduce The FY27 Budget Proposal

On May 12th, 2026, the Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School Committee voted to reduce the FY27 (Fiscal Year 2027) budget proposal following the district’s receipt of state Career and Technical Education (CTE) Expansion Grant funding.

The reduction was made possible by approximately $176,000 in FY27 salary offsets connected to the district’s new Chapter 74-aligned CTE programs; Chapter 74 is the funding source associated with Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs.

Bill Runey, superintendent of the Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District, said he believes the plan will have a significant long-term impact on both students and the district.

“From a student perspective, these programs create more direct pathways to careers that are in high demand and increasingly difficult to fill across Massachusetts and the country. Whether students pursue immediate employment, apprenticeships, military service, certifications, or college, high-quality CTE (Career and Technical Education) gives them real-world skills and experiences that make them more future-ready,” Runey said.

On the financial side of the plan, Runey spoke upon how the approved Chapter 74 CTE programs also position the district more favorably over time.

“These programs generate additional state reimbursement per student, and they help us retain students who might otherwise leave the district for out-of-district vocational schools. That matters because every time a student leaves for another vocational district, our towns absorb tuition and transportation costs. By expanding high-quality opportunities in-house, we can strengthen programming while also improving the district’s long-term financial position,” Runey added.

The Chapter 74 programs are part of a larger $1.5 million state grant award focused on expanding in-district vocational opportunities. While the adjustment has reduced Dighton’s assessment increase from 3.15% to approximately 2.59%, representing a reduction of roughly $75,500 to the town. Rehoboth’s assessment increase was also reduced by roughly $100,000, from 0.90% to approximately 0.50%.

Runey felt like it was extremely important for the school committee to find a way to lower the assessment increases for both towns.

“Throughout this entire budget process, we have tried to balance two very real responsibilities: 1) preserving educational opportunities for students outlined by our DRiving Toward 2030 strategic plan, and 2) also recognizing the financial pressures facing our communities. The School Committee understood that applying the grant-related salary offsets to reduce the FY27 budget was a good-faith effort to address municipal concerns,” Runey said.

Furthermore, with countless amounts of recent college graduates struggling to find stable jobs on top of facing significant student debt, Runey believes expanding vocational and technical education is becoming more crucial than ever for today’s students.

“I think one of the biggest mistakes we made nationally for many years was creating the perception that there was only one successful path after high school. The reality is that students have different strengths, interests, and goals, and our responsibility as educators is to create multiple pathways to shape a student's success. Career and Technical Education today is very different from the outdated stereotypes some people still carry. These are highly skilled, technology-driven programs connected to industries facing major workforce shortages. Students can graduate with certifications, hands-on experience, and a clearer understanding of career opportunities, often while avoiding or reducing significant debt,” Runey stated.

Runey elaborated on his own personal experience as a parent himself, as he witnessed the early hands-on experience his son had learned going into college and how valuable it was.

“My son participated in Career and Technical Education, and I saw firsthand the confidence, skills, and opportunities that experience provided him. When he entered Engineering in college, it became very clear that he was significantly more prepared than many of his freshman classmates in terms of practical skills, professionalism, communication, and real-world expectations. It reinforced for me that high-quality CTE programs are not a secondary pathway—they are an incredibly valuable pathway for many students,” Runey said.

In today’s age, Runey spoke about how you can now be versatile as a student, and that there’s no longer an “either/or” conversation between college and vocational education.

“Many students will pursue both. A student may graduate from a Chapter 74 CTE program, enter the workforce, continue their education at the post-secondary level, or do both simultaneously. Expanding these opportunities simply gives students more options and better preparation for the real world,” Runey stated.   

“Entirely, I believe this adjustment reflects the district’s continued efforts to identify efficiencies and reduce the burden on taxpayers while still preserving educational programming and long-term revenue-generating opportunities tied to Chapter 74 reimbursement. I appreciated their willingness to act on that opportunity. In my opinion, it reflected thoughtful leadership and a recognition that collaboration and stability matter as we move toward both Town Meetings and FY27 implementation,” Runey added.

Ultimately, the committee’s decision reflects an effort to balance fiscal responsibility with long-term educational growth. Given the current state of the job market and economy, in addition to the incredibly vast advancement of AI taking over human jobs—vocational and technical careers are becoming more crucial than ever. Careers such as electricians, HVAC technicians, nurses, engineers, dental hygienists, etc. have become some of the most valuable and high in-demand professions in today’s world. These industries will always need humans to do the work, so these careers are far less likely to be replaced by artificial intelligence anytime soon.

As vocational and technical careers continue becoming more valuable in today’s workforce, district officials believe expanding Chapter 74 opportunities will not only strengthen the school system financially, but also provide students with practical skills and clearer pathways toward future success.