Voters from Blackstone, Millville could be headed for so-called Super Town Meeting

MILLVILLE — Voters from Blackstone and Millville could be headed for a so-called Super Town Meeting of both towns if Millville voters next week fail to approve $39,362 in additional contributions to the Blackstone-Millville Regional School District’s school budget for next fiscal year.

Super town meetings rarely take place in Massachusetts, and there has never been one in Blackstone and Millville.

The sole article before Millville voters at the special town meeting on Wednesday, June 27 is to increase Millville’s annual assessment to the regional school budget following a vote taken by voters at the annual town meeting in neighboring Blackstone to fund the addi- tional contribution.

On May 14, annual town meeting voters in Millville funded the minimal contribution and an additional amount of money. At its annual town meeting, Blackstone voters funded the minimal contribution and funded an additional contribution that surpassed Millville’s vote (per percentage). Now, Millville must come up with an additional $39,362.

According to state law, Millville must tackle the funding request again at a special town meeting now scheduled for next Wednesday. If voters decide not to appropriate the additional funding for the regional school assessment, the Blackstone-Millville Regional District School Committee would convene what is informally known as a regional super town meeting open to all registered vot- ers in both towns. At that time the re-certified school budget would then be considered and adopted by a majority vote of residents attending from both towns.

This is the third time in as many years that a super town meeting is being considered.

The special town meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the Millville Elementary School. That night the Finance Committee will present a recommendation to either reduce certain budget line items previously approved at the May 14 annual town meeting and or transfer funds from another funding source.

If the additional funding is not approved prior to July 1, the School District would be faced with a reduced 1/12th budget at the start of the fiscal year.