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Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Raynham voters head to polls today for override election. Why it still matters
Today's $3.9 million override election in Raynham to fund B-R schools is still on — despite the fact that Bridgewater voters shot down the corresponding override in their town on Saturday. Raynham voters are heading to the polls Tuesday, June 24, to decide the fate of a Proposition 2 1/2 override that would add hundreds of dollars to annual property tax bills to avert what B-R Superintendent Ryan Powers has called "devastating" cuts in B-R schools. Bridgewater voters already shot down their override in a special election on Saturday, June 21, with 56% against and 44% in favor. Because it is a regional school district, both towns have to approve overrides for B-R to get the increased funding. However, even though Bridgewater rejected its override Saturday, the Raynham override vote isn't cancelled. Powers said after the Bridgewater election it's still vital for Raynham voters to make their voices heard. "I remain cautiously optimistic that the voters in Raynham will show up on Tuesday to give the support we need," said Powers, who added he hopes the B-R School Committee and town officials can come together after the special town elections to come up with a plan B. Bridgewater election results Bridgewater shoots down $8M override. How town voted, what about Raynham, what next? A special B-R school committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 25, at 7 p.m., in the auditorium of Raynham Middle School, where Powers said they will discuss options for the district. If one town votes for the override, but not the other, Powers said there would be an opportunity for the opposing side to reconsider or put forth a new override vote. 'Absolute destruction' Bridgewater-Raynham teachers speak out ahead of override elections Powers said prior to Saturday's election that dozens of layoffs are on the table, between 30-45, were the overrides to fail, and school officials have said class sizes could reach as high as 45 students. According to assessments done by both towns, the impact on property taxes of the overrides is as follows, if both overrides were to pass: Bridgewater: The annual property tax bill would increase by $926 for the average single-family home, based on an average assessed value of $594,000. : The annual property tax bill would increase by $636 for the average single-family home, based on an average assessed value of $590,000. Raynham's Special Town Election is on Tuesday, June 24, from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. The polling location is Raynham Middle School, 420 Titicut Road. This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: Raynham override election is still on and it's today. What to know
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bridgewater shoots down $8M override. How town voted, what about Raynham, what next?
Bridgewater voters shot down a Proposition 2 1/2 override by a sizable margin in Saturday's special town election. According to unofficial results, the vote was 56% against and 44% in favor of the override that would have added nearly $1,000 to annual average property tax bills in order to avert what supporters called devastating cuts to the schools. "Obviously, I'm disappointed with the outcome. I worry about the state of our schools," Bridgewater-Raynham Superintendent of Schools Ryan Powers told the Gazette Saturday night, June 21, after polls closed. Bridgewater's election was the first of two votes on overrides to fund the regional school system. Raynham is voting on an override at its own special Town Election on Tuesday, June 24. Both town must approve overrides in order for the schools to receive additional funds. However, options still exist for the Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School District now that Bridgewater has rejected its override. "I remain cautiously optimistic that the voters in Raynham will show up on Tuesday to give the support we need," said Powers, who added he hopes the B-R School Committee and town officials can come together after the special town elections to come up with a plan B. According to unofficial results posted online, 5,885 votes were cast for this special town election. Bridgewater has 19,120 registered voters according to the Town Clerk's Office. That's a turnout rate of 31%. Of the votes, 3,300 voted against the override, while 2,583 voted in favor. 'Absolute destruction' Bridgewater-Raynham teachers speak out ahead of override elections Due to inflation and shortfalls in state aid, the Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School Committee in March voted to increase the district's budget for the 2025-2026 school year by 17%, totaling a budget of $106 million. Because both towns indicated this amount was much higher than they would be able to fund, both communities voted to leave the decision in the hands of the voters in the form of Proposition 2 1/2 overrides. In Bridgewater, the override amount was for $8 million. Of that, $6 million was for B-R schools. The remaining $2 million was for the funding of town services, including roadway repairs, and meeting town demands by hiring and retaining staff numbers for Police, Fire, Public Works, Parks & Recreation, and the Building Department. According to an assessment done by the Town of Bridgewater, the annual impact on property taxes for residents if the override had passed was an increase of $926 for the average single-family home, based on an average assessed value of $594,000. Powers, the superintendent of B-R schools, said prior to Saturday's election that dozens of layoffs are on the table, between 30-45, were the overrides to fail. Powers said the district cut 24 positions before the start of the current school year, and, coupled with the threat of 30-45 more cuts, means losing between 55-70 positions over two years. He called that 'devastating' and said that 'greatly impacts our ability to provide our students with the education they deserve.' Powers said the school district has grown by 400 students over the past five years to its current enrollment of 5,682, and 'expenses are growing faster than our revenue." Presentations at B-R School committee meetings said enrollment increases have led to large class sizes, and if the district can't bring back those 30-40 positions then class sizes will reach as high as 45, depending on grade. Teachers and parents of children in the school district have been expressing their worries at rallies in support of the override, saying the increasing of class sizes will be detrimental to students' education. "My ability to grade and access students is going to be far more limited. If it takes me 12-15 hours to grade 130 students' essays, how can I possibly manage to do all of that with 200 students," said Ashley Mallard, history teacher at B-R High School, at a rally on June 17 in Raynham. Mallard added that increased class sizes would mean she and other teachers will spend more time managing student behavior and not have as much time teaching. In addition, as many as 40 elective classes won't be offered to high school students due to lack of available teachers. June 24's special town election in Raynham is for an override of $3.9 million, all for the school budget. For Raynham residents, the override would increase the annual property tax bill by $636 for the average single-family home, based on an average assessed value of $590,000. After Raynham's override vote on June 24, a special B-R school committee meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 25 at 7 p.m., in the auditorium of Raynham Middle School, to discuss options for the district. What the school committee decides for the district depends on the outcomes from both override votes. If one town votes for the override, but not the other, Powers said there would be an opportunity for the opposing side to reconsider or put forth a new override vote. The school committee could also put forth a reduced budget for the towns, one that's either within current agreed limits, or is still higher than the agreed percentage increase, which could require another override vote at a lower amount. The state could intervene with the B-R district agreeing to a 1/12 budget process, which is a monthly temporary budget that the state can impose for the entire fiscal school year. Powers explained its basically last year's operating budget, plus the new percentage increase of state aid. 'That's not nearly enough to cover the true operating expenses,' he previously said. The school district may also hold a joint town meeting, with voters from both towns, to vote whether or not to pass the proposed budget, which could result in either service cuts across both communities, or the scheduling of another override election. With additional reporting from Emma Rindlisbacher. This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: Bridgewater rejects override to fund B-R schools. What happens now?
