DIGHTON — Dighton Board of Selectmen Chairman Kenneth Pacheco and Finance Committee Chairman Edward Swartz, together with Town Administrator Michael Mullen, are pleased to share information regarding the Town of Dighton’s upcoming Annual Town Meeting and Special Town Meeting.
The Special Town Meeting will be held on Monday, June 7 at 6 p.m. in the Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School Auditorium, 2700 Regional Road, with the Annual Town Meeting to follow at 7 p.m.
To view the warrant for the Special Town Meeting, click here, and to view the warrant for the Annual Town Meeting, click here.
The Special Town Meeting warrant includes less than a half-dozen articles that include funding the last portion of the Fiscal Year 2021 assessment for the Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District in the amount of $260,000 and a number of minor housekeeping articles.
The Annual Town Meeting will begin with reports from town officials. Residents will then be asked to consider a 31-article Annual Town Meeting Warrant, which includes the town’s proposed $23.2 million operating budget for Fiscal Year 2022.
“Our proposed operating budget features targeted investments that are fiscally responsible for the Town of Dighton, its residents and taxpayers,” Finance Committee Chair Swartz said. “With this budget, we remain committed to upholding our strong record of diligent fiscal planning to continue in moving the town forward.”
Notable items on the Annual Town Meeting’s warrant include an article to reestablish the lieutenant position within the Dighton Police Department to assist with the needs of the growing community and evolving department; ongoing investments in a town-wide online permitting service; continued investments in the parks and recreation department and for accessibility upgrades; and proposed funding for a new fire engine, a police vehicle, and highway/roadway equipment.
“The Annual Town Meeting Warrant is a straightforward, nuts and bolts warrant that continues the town’s commitment to responsible fiscal planning and targeted capital investments,” Town Administrator Mullen said. “We’re focused on continuing the credibility the town has built in funding core town services that are vital to all Dighton residents.”
While mask and building capacity restrictions will be relaxed following the ease of all COVID-19 restrictions on May 29, the Town of Dighton encourages residents to exercise health and safety practices such as social distancing while at the Annual Town Meeting and Special Town Meeting.
“The process of developing our proposed Fiscal Year 2022 budget has been a collaborative effort, inclusive of department heads, our Boards and Committees and residents,” Chairman Pacheco said. “Throughout the process, we’ve worked with all stakeholders to ensure that the proposed budget reflects the needs of the entire Dighton community.”
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