Rehoboth Spring Town Meeting on June 3

In the June 3 Spring Town Meeting warrant, the Rehoboth Finance Committee notes the Town faces a deficit of $391,000.  The committee reports the total estimated revenues of $40,100,000 and total expenses of $40, 491, 363.

There are 29 warrant articles. The meeting will be held at 7 pm at the Museum Building at Francis Farm, 27 Francis Farm Road. A second session may be held on June 10 if needed.

“We look forward to a constructive and engaging meeting where every voice can be heard and considered,” said Board of Selectmen Chair Skip Vadnais. “Together, we can create lasting positive change and build a stronger, more vibrant community.”  

The budget for the next fiscal year includes $14.8 million for Town Government services. $24.1 million will be allocated for the Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District. $1.49 million will be allocated for Regional Vocational Schools (Bristol-Plymouth and Bristol Agricultural).

“This year’s budget represents a 2.8 percent increase over FY’25, excluding the fixed costs such as Health Insurance, Town Insurance and Pension,” the Finance Committee explained. “The overall budget for the Dighton Regional School Committee’s operating and Capital Assessment increased 3.79 percent over last year.  The assessment to the Town of Rehoboth for FY’26 is 5.63 percent or $1,288,967 increase over last year.  This includes Capital Debt assessment of $623,800.  This appropriation will fund Dighton Rehoboth Regional School assessment in full.”

“The Finance Committee recommends using available free cash to balance the budget. We thank everyone in Town government and the schools who were able to minimize this deficit. Trending forward, we anticipate less free cash and the Finance Committee recommends to the supervising boards and the Town and school administrations to continue to assess increases in budget in accordance with anticipated increases in revenue in order to achieve a balanced budget. While we have used free cash in previous years to balance the budget, this should not become a habitual course of action.”

The Consent Agenda features six articles, including the authorization of disposal of surplus Town equipment and materials from any Town departments, fixing the salary and compensation of all elected officials, funding for the Community Preservation Committee, and accepting the reports of the Board of Health, Blanding Library, and Housing Authority.

Other warrant articles include:

• To see if the Town will vote to appropriate, pursuant to MGL C. 44, S. 53F ¾, $362,500 from the PEG Access and Cable Fund for the purpose of supporting cable access services for the Town of Rehoboth
• To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of $1,285,986 for the purposes of funding FY26 Capital Items, including: $13,875 for Parking lot lights at Highway Department, $27,413 for Flooring for the Police Facility, $26,063 for replacement heat pumps at the Police Facility, $125,217 for the purchase of a 2024 Ford Super Duty F-550 - Chip Truck for the Forestry Department, and $500,000 to replace a Fire Department tanker.
• To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds the amount of $150,000 into the Town’s Capital Stabilization Fund.
• To see if the town will vote to appropriate the use of $16,000 from the Historic Preservation Reserve of the Community Preservation Act ( CPA) to replace the roof on the Hornbine School and outhouse located at 144 Hornbine Rd.
• To see if the Town will vote to amend Chapter 60, Personnel Bylaw, Section 60-3 A, without amendment to subsections 60-3A (1)-(3), by deleting that paragraph in its entirety and replacing it with the following: Personnel Board. The Board of Selectmen shall serve as the Personnel Board, whose service on the Personnel Board shall be coterminous with their terms as members of the Board of Selectmen, or take any other action relative thereto.
• To see if the Town will vote to include a new bylaw in its Stormwater Management bylaws with respect to Land Disturbance and Post Construction Runoff Control for property that is less than one acre. The warrant explains: “During recent years, there has been a significant increase in real estate development in all areas of Town. During the course of construction of individual lots and properties that are not otherwise subject to regulatory oversight for stormwater and erosion control under the existing Town Bylaws and Regulations, the Town has incurred damages and others harms to its roadways and drainage systems as a result of the failure of persons to provide stormwater and erosion control measures at development sites across Town. These circumstances have resulted in unnecessary costs to the taxpayers of Rehoboth and public sentiment seeking better regulatory controls. As such, it is the intent of the Town to require all persons, properties and projects that are subject to the terms and conditions of this Bylaw, and not exempted hereby, to procure approval and implementation of a Stormwater Control Plan from the Administering Authority (as defined below) prior to commencement of construction.”

The bylaw reads in part: 

“No Person may undertake a construction activity, including clearing, grading and excavation, that results in a land disturbance that will disturb less than one (1) acre of land without a land disturbance permit approving a “Stormwater Control Plan” from the “Administrating Authority” as both of said terms are defined in § 210-22 of this Bylaw. Except as may be exempted by § 210-21 of this Bylaw, the terms and conditions of this Article IV shall apply to new construction and renovations on all land that is less than one (1) acre, including but not limited to said work which is being performed on single family lots.” 

The entire warrant can be accessed on the town website: rehobothma.gov.