Select Board explains Oak Colony 16N revote and warns passage would require debt‑exclusion assessments

During the June 10 meeting the Acushnet Board of Selectmen outlined the legal and fiscal consequences of the upcoming Oak Colony regional school 16N revote, urging voters to understand that passage would require member towns to accept an assessment and likely seek a debt‑exclusion vote at town meeting.

The chair explained the 16N option in plain terms: under the regional agreement and M.G.L. procedures the regional vote is aggregated across the five member towns; if 50.1% of the combined votes across those towns support the measure, the regional project moves forward and the regional district sends an assessment to each member town. "We don't have a choice after this vote. If it passes, we do not have a choice. We will have to ask our residents...for a debt exclusion," the chair said.

Selectmen emphasized that the assessment cannot be funded through the regular levy in most cases and will require a separate debt‑exclusion article at a future town meeting. The board also provided voter logistics: Acushnet absentee ballots for the revote are available until noon on June 18; the revote takes place Saturday, June 20, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

Board members said the 16N mechanism was adopted by regional officials to avoid protracted litigation — and that it shifts the immediate funding decision to residents in member towns via debt‑exclusion votes. The board asked residents to seek further details from the regional superintendent's presentation (noted as recorded on YouTube Nov. 18) and to contact the town clerk with election questions.