Buckland Select Board Votes Against Both Regional School Operating Assessments

BUCKLAND — April 28, 2026 — Buckland Select Board votes against regional school assessments and approves $500,000 override ballot question. The board unanimously voted not to recommend the Mohawk Trail Regional School District operating assessment — up 9.9 percent to roughly $2,990,096 — or the Franklin County Technical School operating assessment, which rose $28,203, a 9.3 percent increase; the Finance Committee had also rejected both. The board did approve capital assessments for both districts. Separately, the board approved exact language for a Proposition 2½ override question for the June 2 annual town election: "Shall the Town of Buckland be allowed to assess an additional $500,000 in real estate and personal property taxes for the purpose of funding school and municipal operations for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026." In public comment, resident Marie asked the board to write to MassDOT opposing a proposed sidewalk on the $21.5 million Route 112 reconstruction project, warning that without a board letter before approximately May 3, trees in front of Mohawk Trail Regional School will be cut to make way for the installation.