Latest news with #BridgewaterRaynham
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
B-R high stakes override votes are Saturday and Tuesday. Taxes, cuts, where, when and more
Bridgewater and Raynham voters will be heading to the polls in the next few days to decide the fate of a pair of high stakes Proposition 2 1/2 overrides that would add hundreds of dollars to annual property tax bills to avert "devastating" cuts in B-R schools. Bridgewater's override election will be held Saturday, June 21, followed close behind by Raynham's election on Tuesday, June 24. 'What's happening is the cost of the schools' core needs is outpacing the revenues that communities can allot. To avoid a critical step back of the progress the schools have made, this is needed,' said Dennis Gallagher, state representative for 8th Plymouth District, representing Bridgewater and Raynham. Gallagher adds he's in support of the overrides. Proposition 2.5 overrides are notoriously difficult to pass. Here are all the facts regarding the upcoming special town elections both communities are holding: Under a Massachusetts law called Proposition 2 1/2, cities and towns can only increase the amount of money they collect through property taxes each year by 2.5% plus an amount corresponding to how much "new growth" the city or town has seen. If a town wants to increase its property tax revenue by more than 2.5% plus new growth, a majority of voters must approve a Proposition 2 1/2 override at the ballot box. See who and where This former B-R boys basketball standout is headed to the Ivy League Bridgewater will hold its Special Town Election on Saturday, June 21, from 7a.m. – 8 p.m. The polling location is Bridgewater Middle School, 166 Mount Prospect St. Raynham will hold its Special Town Election on Tuesday, June 24, from 10a.m. – 8 p.m. The polling location is Raynham Middle School, 420 Titicut Road. In Bridgewater, the override is for $8 million. Of that, $6 million is for B-R schools. The remaining $2 million is 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. In Raynham, the override amount on the ballot is $3.9 million, all for the school budget. The Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School District's budget is funded by both towns, as well as state aid. Due to continuing inflation and shortfalls in state aid to the school district, back on March 26, the Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School Committee voted to increase the district's budget for the 2025-2026 school year by 17%, totaling a budget of $106 million. The school committee requested from Bridgewater an increase of $7.6 million or 23% and from Raynham an increase of $4.6 million, or 22%. This amount was many times higher than what the towns of Bridgewater and Raynham both indicated they would be able to fund — an increase of 4.7% from Bridgewater and 3% from Raynham, respectively. Superintendent of Schools Ryan Powers, speaking on behalf of the Administration and School Committee, said he realizes the impact this override will have on families. 'It's not lost on us,' he said, but 'the budget is reflective of the needs of the district, and what the kids deserve.' 'Rolling the dice on a big number' B-R passes budget that will require override votes According to assessments done by both towns, the impact on property taxes for residents if the overrides were to pass are as follows: Raynham: The annual property tax bill would increase by $636.75 for the average single-family home, based on an average assessed value of $590,000. Bridgewater: The annual property tax bill would increase by $926.63 for the average single-family home, based on an average assessed value of $594,000. Both towns have tax estimate calculators for this vote on their town websites if residents want to get the exact additional amount of property taxes they will be paying with this override. Gallagher, the state representative, said he believes voters 'need to look at what quality of education do they want for their community' when they go to the polls to decide on the override. He adds it's a tough personal choice, 'everyone's financial situation is different,' and 'it's a pretty big increase.' In a May 1, 2025, letter to the school community, Superintendent Powers said dozens of layoffs are on the table, between 30-45, if the override does not pass. 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 at Raynham Town Meeting 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," especially for transportation costs and special education, which, he said, presently comprises 20% of the district's student population. 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. In addition, as many as 40 elective classes won't be offered to high school students due to lack of available teachers. If the override passes, the re-hiring or reestablishing of 30-40 positions can keep classroom sizes down to a high of 27. Because it is a regional school district, both towns would have to approve overrides for B-R to get the increased funding. However, even if Bridgewater rejects its override Saturday, the Raynham override vote isn't cancelled. Both votes will happen, which will determine how the school district moves forward. A special B-R school committee meeting is currently 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 at least one of the override votes fails. Powers told the Gazette there are several different options on the table for the School Committee to decide on, and 'it really is a series of dominos' as the outcome of the votes will influence how the district moves forward. 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. In Bridgewater's case, for example, with one-fourth of the total override amount for town services, the Council might decide it would figure out with current available savings on how to fund that number, thereby reducing the override amount, which may be more appealing to the voters. The school committee also has the option of putting 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. If one or both overrides is rejected, the B-R district may go through a 1/12 budget process, which is a monthly temporary budget that the state can impose for the entire fiscal school year. Powers said, basically, its last year's operating budget, plus the new percentage increase of state aid. 'That's not nearly enough to cover the true operating expenses,' said Powers. Powers said because of the proximity of the end of the current fiscal year, June 30, a situation could pan out where the start of the fiscal year begins with a 1/12 budget plan, but could be replaced by the start of the school year due to new override votes or a new proposed budget. The school district could 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. Powers said, whatever the outcome, it's important that residents just get out and vote. This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: Bridgewater-Raynham override elections: When, where, taxes, cuts
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Who is the Taunton Daily Gazette H.S. Boys Athlete of the Week for May 5-11?
Another week of the spring high school sports season has come and gone in the Greater Taunton area. Last week, Bridgewater-Raynham lacrosse completed the season sweep of Dartmouth to claim the Southeast Conference crown while Taunton track and field had a winner at the MSTCA Coaches Metro Invitational and Dighton-Rehoboth volleyball ended a 4-match losing skid with a sweep. Taunton baseball and volleyball continue to look strong while a Dighton-Rehoboth lacrosse player reached a career milestone and Bristol-Plymouth baseball scored a pair of key league wins. Advertisement The Taunton Daily Gazette High School Boys Athlete of the Week for April 28-May 4 is Taunton baseball's Joey Benoit, receiving 50% of the vote. Dighton-Rehoboth baseball's Jordan Castro came in second with 40% while Bridgewater-Raynham track and field's Josh Geer received 5% to finish third. Now is your chance to choose the Taunton Daily Gazette High School Boys Athlete of the Week for May 5-11, with polls open through noon Sunday. Only players from teams that submitted stats to the Gazette or made them readily available online are featured in this poll. Scores and stats can be submitted via email to cmerritt@ Voting can only be done through the poll below, and any votes submitted by email or other means will not be counted. Vote for the Taunton Daily Gazette High School Boys Athlete of the Week, with polls open through noon Sunday. Baseball Joey Benoit, Taunton Benoit went 2-for-2 with a triple, 3 runs and a pair of RBIs against Milford. Owen King, Bridgewater-Raynham King went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and an RBI against Milton. Gary Fluerent, Bristol Aggie Fluerent went 2-for-2 against South Shore Tech. Thaniel LaBrie, Bristol-Plymouth LaBrie went 3-for-3 with 3 doubles, a run and a pair of RBIs against Tri-County. Ben Miller, Dighton-Rehoboth Miller went 6 innings giving up a run on 4 hits and a walk while striking out 12 and went 2-for-3 at the plate against Fairhaven. Lacrosse Corey Herbert, Bridgewater-Raynham Herbert had 4 goals against Dartmouth. Charlie Rosa, Dighton-Rehoboth Rosa recorded his 300th career save against Fairhaven. Tennis Banks Beckwith, Bridgewater-Raynham Beckwith won first singles 6-3, 6-0 against Durfee. Track and Field Brayden Blennau, Taunton Blennau won the 400 meter (0:50.04) at the MSTCA Coaches Metro Invitational. Caiden Blake, Bridgewater-Raynham Blake finished 6th overall in the triple jump (40 feet) and was part of the 4x400 meter relay team that came in 2nd (3:26.71) at the MSTCA Coaches Metro Invitational. Cole Gifford, Dighton-Rehoboth Gifford finished 8th overall in the javelin (142 feet 6 inches) at the MSTCA Coaches Shore Invitational. Volleyball Travis Johnson, Taunton Johnson had 30 kills against Tolman (R.I.). Connor Bessette, Dighton-Rehoboth Bessette had 9 kills and 12 blocks against King Philip. This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: Vote: Who is the H.S. Boys Athlete of the Week for May 5-11?
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Yahoo
Top stories: Massive Taunton housing project approved; Tribe pays city $2.4M
Before we begin the new week in earnest, we're taking a look back at the week that was, and the stories that led the news with Taunton Daily Gazette readers. Top stories this past week included: Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, an American, was elected as Pope Leo XIV, succeeding the late Pope Francis. He is the first ever pontiff from the United States. Across the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River and Boston, both ministry and laypeople celebrated the news. The Special State Primary is coming up on Tuesday. What you need to know. It's last-minute, since today is Mother's Day, but here's where you can make plans in the Taunton area. Starting in March, both Taunton Public Schools and the City of Taunton began experiencing internet outages. At the time, neither the city nor the school department would confirm whether hacking was the cause of the internet outage. Nearly two months later, on May 5, Superintendent John Cabral confirmed in an email to the Gazette that the school department had been hacked. What we know, as of this writing. Raynham native Shay Bollin announced via Instagram Monday that she was transferring to the University of Wisconsin, where she'll play for the Badgers while pursuing her graduate degree. The former Bridgewater-Raynham star had been at the University of Illinois for the past two years after transferring from Duke. The Taunton Tornadoes 12U Buffington softball squad have already staked their claim as the top club in Southeast Massachusetts, claiming the second Annual Mass Titans Fastpitch Clash of the Titans crown. Kinfolks BBQ has reopened. On Friday, May 2, the driver of a vehicle shot at the driver of a second vehicle near Fifth Street and West Water Street in Taunton, Police Chief Ed Walsh said in a press release. The press release did not name a suspect who fired the shots, but said that a suspect had been arrested. This is what we know, as of this writing. According to Massachusetts State Police, on April 15 and 16, officers from multiple law enforcement agencies executed search warrants in 20 different locations throughout Fall River, Taunton, Raynham, Norton, Pembroke and Falmouth in a yearlong investigation they termed 'Operation No Love.' Sixteen people are facing drug charges. Ten people have been displaced after a structure fire broke out at a home on Fruit Street in Taunton Wednesday evening. What we know, as of this writing. Bill Runey, superintendent of the Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District, has been named the recipient of Tech & Learning's 2025 New England Innovative Superintendent Award. Three Raynham firefighters have graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighter Academy. The latest Greater Taunton real estate report, featuring a brand-new construction in Taunton that sold for $760,000. The home on Willis Pond Road has a custom kitchen with a large island and a walk-in pantry, a living room that boasts a toasty fireplace, a luxurious ensuite primary, and a walk-up attic with endless possibilities. Check out this property, as well as other recent top-sellers. These were the Top 5 stories of the past week, according to Gazette readers: Taunton City Council on April 29, by a 6-2 vote, approved a special permit for developer Greystar to demolish the decrepit Whittenton Mills complex and transform the area into a massive housing development. It would be the largest housing complex the city has ever seen. Gazette Reporter Daniel Schemer has the story. 'Fresh start': Massive Taunton housing project approved. What it will mean for Whittenton The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe paid Taunton $2.4 million on Wednesday — which means the tribe is now current on its annual payments to the city and no longer owes money from missing payments that started in 2021. Currently, the tribe is constructing an addition to its casino Welcome Center in Taunton. Gazette Reporter Emma Rindlisbacher has the story. Up to date: Tribe pays Taunton $2.4M in back payments, expands casino Welcome Center. What we know The three Taunton Municipal Light Plant commissioners will be getting a raise. At the Tuesday, April 29, Taunton City Council meeting, the Council voted to more than double the annual stipend given to the commissioners, from $6,000 to $12,196. Here's how the votes went. City Council meeting: TMLP commissioners getting 100% retroactive raise. Why and how each city councilor voted Four decades after she first stepped on a diamond in the Taunton Girls Softball League, a Taunton softball legend is calling it a career in the sport. Taunton native and Boston College head coach Amy Kvilhaug announced her retirement from coaching Monday after helming the Eagles for six seasons. Here's what she said. 'An honor and privilege': A Taunton softball legend is calling it a career after 22 years as a college head coach First Defense Supply, which officially opened on April 21 in Taunton, is a uniform, apparel, and supply store for first responders, including police, firefighters and EMS. Located at 14 Merchants Lane, the store offers a range of apparel, tactical gear, and accessories. This is what they do, and do not, sell. First Defense Supply: Taunton has brand new first responder uniform supply store. What they do and don't sell This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: Top stories: Massive Taunton housing project approved
