Old Colony Building Project vote to take place today

Voters in Rochester and Mattapoisett will go to the polls today, Tuesday, Nov. 18, to determine the fate of a $288 million proposed project to rebuild Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School and expand the building.

Old Colony is proposing the construction of a new school building that will increase the student population from 560 to 776 students, in addition to modernizing equipment and overall infrastructure.

A majority of the combined votes in Rochester, Mattapoisett, Lakeville, Acushnet and Carver is required for the project to proceed. 

Polls will open at 12 p.m. and run until 8 p.m.

Mattapoisett residents will vote at Old Hammondtown Elementary, located at 20 Shaw St.

Rochester residents will vote at the Rochester Council on Aging, located at 67 Dexter Lane.

Rochester would potentially pay approximately 10% of the funding for the project if approved, totaling to just over $28 million.

Mattapoisett would potentially pay approximately 3% of funding for the project if approved, totaling to just over $8 million.

In addition to project approval, Rochester will also vote on whether to pay for the town’s share through a Proposition 2 ½ debt exclusion — allowing taxes to be temporarily increased above the average limit throughout the duration of the project bond period.

In Mattapoisett, officials are delaying votes on how the town would fund its share if the project is approved.

More information about the project can be found by reading our Old Colony Q&A about the proposal or this article, which details the financial cost of the project, benefits of the new building and ongoing concerns from the community.