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Middleborough board to add REXA tax-increment financing agreement to April town meeting after state law change
Summary
Select Board discussed a tax-increment financing (TIF) agreement with REXA Inc., citing a recent state law change that removed a state agency approval requirement; the board voted to add the TIF article to the April 28, 2025 annual town meeting warrant.
The Select Board of the Town of Middleborough voted unanimously Jan. 13 to place a proposed tax-increment financing agreement with REXA Inc. on the warrant for the annual town meeting set for April 28, 2025.
Town staff described a recent change in state law that removed a prior requirement for approval by the Economic Assistance Coordinating Council, and said that change affects whether the council’s December vote could block the local agreement. “The legislature amended the law and changed the requirement for approval by the EACC,” an attorney advising the board said. “…if we were to go back to town meeting and get approval for a new agreement, then it would not be subject to the prior version of the law at all. It is only subject to the new version of the law, and we can go forward.”
Why it matters: REXA told the town it would keep more than 100 local jobs if it built a facility in Middleborough. Board members and some residents framed the matter as a jobs retention issue and urged turnout for the town meeting vote. Resident Diane Fay told the board REXA said it “didn’t wanna go out of state” and urged voters to attend the meeting.
Details reported at the meeting: Town staff said REXA representatives are willing to wait until the spring town meeting and to sign an updated agreement that removes references to the earlier law and to the EACC. The board voted to add the TIF agreement to the warrant and closed the vote with a unanimous “Aye.”
What remains: The board and REXA plan to finalize a town-meeting version of the agreement reflecting the new statutory framework and to execute the agreement after voter approval. The transcript record does not specify the ordinance or statute citation for the law change, nor the exact vote tally beyond “motion passes unanimously.”
