SEEKONK - Voters will decide how to fund newly signed contracts with the school employees unions at a special town meeting today.

The meeting, which will begin at 4 p.m. at Seekonk High School, comes just five days after the regular fall town meeting.

Tension between selectmen and the school committee flared up over the contracts at the Oct. 22 tri-board meeting.

Selectmen Chairman Robert Richardson said the town would not be able to pay for the second and third years of the contracts, which include salary increases of 3.2 percent.

"We can't afford it," Richardson said, noting an override of Proposition 21/2 was unlikely to be approved by voters. Superintendent Emile Chevrette condemned what he referred to as the "backstabbing" and "false information" spread by selectmen.

Selectman Michael Brady objected to the possibility of the school department instituting user fees for sports and bus transportation to fund the teacher contracts.

"I have a problem with that," Brady said, adding that user fees would hurt many families who are struggling financially.

School committee member Fran Creamer has responded to criticism from selectmen, saying the contracts with the school employees were "negotiated in good faith."