Dighton Select Board Warns of $501,000 Deficit if Debt Exclusion Fails

Select Board · Meeting of January 28, 2026

Dighton Select Board hears debt exclusion warning projecting a $501,611 deficit for fiscal year 2027 without voter approval. Town Administrator Ralph McCaffrey told the board Wednesday that Dighton's share of regional school construction costs for Bristol Plymouth Technical High School and Bristol County Agricultural High School will consume nearly all of the town's $836,000 in projected levy growth, leaving the town roughly $501,000 short without a debt exclusion. The average annual tax impact if the question passes is $263.24 per household.

Town Accountant Serena reported that state aid increased by $36,000 from the governor's proposed budget but warned the figure could shift, and that the snow and ice budget is already $68,000 in the red. The board tabled a highway department class one operator job description after member Nicole Mello said the union received it only that day and the posting lacked required ADA and equal opportunity language — with a public commenter reinforcing that the omission is a legal violation. Library Director Mark Bauer reported young adult circulation has risen 65.92 percent since the new library opened, with overall circulation up 28.26 percent and overall return on the library's appropriated budget rising from $1.77 to $2.28 per dollar.

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Source: the Select Board meeting of January 28, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.