Dighton Select Board Approves Debt Exclusion Mailer With Disclaimer for April Vote

DIGHTON -- March 4, 2026, Dighton Select Board approves voter mailer on two school debt exclusion questions ahead of April 11 election. The board voted unanimously Wednesday to send registered voters a mailer covering Question 1, the Bristol County Agricultural High School District bond with a town share of approximately $6.25 million and an annual obligation of roughly $210,000, and Question 2, the Bristol Plymouth Regional Vocational Technical School District bond with a town share of approximately $20 million and an annual obligation of roughly $740,000, a combined potential annual tax impact of about $263 for the average Dighton homeowner if both pass. Members added a disclaimer to the mailer clarifying that the pro argument, authored by the Finance Committee, and the con argument, authored by the Dighton Republican Town Committee, do not represent the views of the elected board, after members objected to the pro argument's claim that the animal control officer and a Council on Aging employee would be cut if the exclusions fail. Board of Assessors Chairman Bill Moore appeared during public comment to distribute a budget analysis arguing the town's local receipts are systematically underestimated and that a corrected accounting would show a $700,000 surplus, demanding the board direct the town administrator to submit a budget with no cuts to personnel.