Braintree School Debt Exclusion Vote Postponed Again

BRAINTREE, MA — A judge in Norfolk County Superior Court has issued an order allowing town officials to postpone the special election a second time amid the coronavirus pandemic. The scheduled vote was for residents to decide whether to approve a $63 million debt exclusion to pay for a new South Middle School and other school improvement project.

The election was originally scheduled for March 28 and was supposed to be re-scheduled before June 30, but town solicitor Nicole Taub told the Town Council last week that the new court order allows Braintree to schedule the election as late as Sept. 30.

Other requirements still apply, including the Town Council to give at least 20 days notice before choosing a date.

Mayor Charles Kokoros said at the debt exclusion would cost the average homeowner an additional $191 in property taxes per year, but that amount would decrease after five years.

The mayor broke down the money by project with the majority of the exclusion, $55.6 million, covering the construction of a new South Middle School. Other projects include:

• $5 million to replace roofs at five elementary schools
• $1.5 million for a feasibility study on redeveloping Braintree High School
• $1 million for school security improvements district-wide.

If a debt exclusion is approved, property taxes will increase, but the increases will decrease gradually over the life of the loan. Here's a breakdown of the average tax increases:

• Years 1-5: $190.99
• Years 6-10: $175.91
• Years 11-20: 170.88
• Years 20-30: $150.78

Residents not registered to vote will have until 10 days before the election to register. Applications to vote via absentee ballot will be accepted by the town clerk until noon the day before the election. Anyone who has already filled out an absentee ballot will still have their vote counted. If you would rather vote in person, that is also possible as long as your absentee vote was not already counted.