Dighton-Rehoboth School Committee Adopts Revised FY27 Budget, Cuts Town Assessment Increases

REHOBOTH — May 12, 2026 — Dighton-Rehoboth School Committee adopts a revised $54.9 million FY27 budget after accepting a $1.5 million state CTE expansion grant. The committee voted to incorporate $176,800 in grant-funded salary offsets for new criminal justice and culinary programs at the regional high school, reducing the district-wide budget increase from 3.61 percent to 3.28 percent and cutting Rehoboth's assessment increase from 0.92 percent to 0.5 percent, setting the town's assessment at $24,312,073. Superintendent William Murray cautioned that the state grant was one-time funding and that Dighton faces a more difficult budget year ahead; one committee member pushed back on using the one-time revenue to fund recurring salary positions, warning it could "screw us next year." District Treasurer and Grant Writer Renee Moody, credited by Murray as the primary driver of the application, confirmed the $1.5 million would be spent over more than one fiscal year on equipment and construction for the two new programs. The committee also approved a job description for a new Transition Coordinator position, covering the BRIGHT student reintegration program and the district's Early College pathway.