[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6623684,"mediaKeyId","2769453-1ed3ece0841c7a9983c4af1b3e60453b","parentId",2769453,"title","Acton Finance Committee issues recommendations on FY26 warrant; municipal budget recommended with dissent","audioSeconds",1314,"startMs",3161000,"endMs",4475000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2769453-1ed3ece0841c7a9983c4af1b3e60453b&start=3161&end=4475","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2769453-1ed3ece0841c7a9983c4af1b3e60453b/thumbnail_3161000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6623684/Town-of-Acton/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Acton-Finance-Committee-issues-recommendations-on-FY26-warrant-municipal-budget-recommended-with-dissent","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6623684-cec5d6e8a19d3f416806324f5b4d6ddd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770439314&Signature=OC806H9Z1nO97ltSVlaUParKJ4H42aL50fLOjjJhRoid0IYHQ1~5erkLF2KWhcBnqqRbVaTwI~495MzQPTCT7nTWgkPYC2FF66xPqN3yuWZWc5X0ZqyvHZDeVxuAx5UYvMDN2lAKkqMrqE9fr-I-60nwQIQiDSwJ4prqy9g5ZlBFATUecYnS7Qx5sfoDisdaIY6R1ufGG6Twp0jBD3iRRYw-mNTlK23K3eqwKV8K-q5jxSlJUWY~2jPHecsqn6hOHUF-h3bTrLaIC8G003YgoW8E77tdnlGA3ijjnFbjyxMYmJvl7roq5S3~MBXUtbFQusGA9wwVGe1GUCXYy7Q2CA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Acton","date","2025-03-26T02:12:40.483Z","article","The Acton Finance Committee conducted its required FY26 budget hearing, considered presentations and citizen participation, and issued recommendations on multiple warrant articles ahead of town meeting.

The committee opened with public participation and then heard a presentation by Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical High School. Following presentations and discussion the committee closed the formal budget hearing by motion (moved by Greg; seconded by Steve) and then proceeded through the warrant, making recommendations and taking holds on several items.

Key committee actions and recommendations

- Municipal operating budget (Article 4): The committee formally recommended the municipal operating budget as presented in the ALG (Acton Leadership Group) plan. The recommendation carried, but the committee recorded dissent: two members voted against recommending the article. The committee noted that the municipal side had cut positions and capital requests during negotiation but that some members remained concerned about baseline increases and the timing of certain capital initiatives.

- Acton-Boxborough Regional School District assessment (Article 8): The finance committee recommended the regional school operating assessment; the motion passed but the committee recorded one recorded nay during the voice vote.

- Minuteman Regional assessment (Article 9): After the Minuteman presentation the committee voted to recommend the Minuteman assessment article; the voice vote was recorded as unanimous.

- Article 5 (capital appropriation): Committee members discussed numerous subitems. The committee voted to not recommend one line item (subsection A2, Acton Memorial Library interior improvements) and recorded the result in a hand-count: four members voted to not recommend, three opposed that motion, and one member abstained. Several other capital subsections were recommended as presented; the committee also deferred consideration of one childcare/transfer-station item (subsection I) so the select board could separate the two elements and return revised language.

- Article 32 (citizen petition to restrict use of gas-powered leaf blowers): The committee voted to not recommend the citizen petition. Committee members cited potential economic impacts on small businesses, enforcement and cost concerns for residents, and practicality (wet leaves/large properties); several members also framed the issue as outside core municipal functions.

- Article 35 (home-rule petition to expand residency radius for public safety hires): The committee recommended the article to reauthorize a previously approved home-rule petition that allows hiring public-safety personnel at a wider residency radius; the recommendation passed.

- Article 36 (acceptance of Municipal Modernization Act amendment re: OPEB trust administration): The committee recommended acceptance of the amendment to clarify administration of the town's OPEB trust.

- Several articles were deferred for more information, including the proposed DPW building funding article (Article 7), Town Hall electrification/HVAC replacement (Article 6a), sidewalk/complete-streets funding (Article 6b), and certain enterprise fund details; the committee requested additional materials and lifecycle/cost analyses where applicable.

Why it matters: The finance committee's recommendations are an advisory step before town meeting and help voters and boards identify items that warrant further scrutiny. The committee signaled support for the school and Minuteman assessments while rejecting specific capital and citizen-petition items the committee judged premature or potentially costly.

Votes at a glance (selected)
- Close FY26 budget hearing: motion carried (voice vote; moved by Greg, seconded by Steve).
- Article 4 (Municipal operating budget): recommended (motion passed; two committee members recorded dissent).
- Article 8 (ABRSD assessment): recommended (motion passed; one recorded nay).
- Article 9 (Minuteman assessment): recommended (unanimous voice vote).
- Article 5.A2 (Acton Memorial Library interior improvements): committee voted to not recommend (4 in favor of not recommending; 3 opposed; 1 abstention).
- Article 5.I (childcare/transfer station subsidy): deferred for redrafting and separation by select board.
- Article 32 (leaf-blower restriction, citizen petition): not recommended by committee.
- Article 35 (home-rule petition: residency radius for public-safety hires): recommended.

Next steps: The committee asked for additional lifecycle cost and ROI analysis on Town Hall HVAC electrification and the proposed DPW building, requested that the select board split the childcare and transfer-station items into separate warrant entries, and scheduled follow-up discussions at the committee's next meeting.

Ending: The committee closed the session after scheduling follow-up items for the next meeting and preparing language for outreach to voters ahead of town meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Acton Finance Committee Meeting - March 25th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Acton Finance Committee closed the required FY26 budget hearing and issued recommendations on a range of FY26 warrant articles, endorsing the municipal and regional school budgets (with some dissent), recommending the Minuteman assessment and rejecting several capital and citizen-petition items.","taxTitle","Town of Acton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts","taxId",56888,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6623689,"Minuteman Regional presents FY26 budget; Acton assessment declines slightly",2552,636000,3188000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2769453-1ed3ece0841c7a9983c4af1b3e60453b&start=636&end=3188","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2769453-1ed3ece0841c7a9983c4af1b3e60453b/thumbnail_636000.jpg","/articles/6623689/Town-of-Acton/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Minuteman-Regional-presents-FY26-budget-Acton-assessment-declines-slightly","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6623689-addf06d90d45c683eb5e3c28f1c183e9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770439314&Signature=QljwXU63mQt3q~SYy2-EE5EmbcFD70MrL0kvhL0lKsm3kgSm9bKLGVO65OfMJGMp-4EVS9MylqyMNuq0u2BQt02-TUKAQu3YcKm2HEWQtlpnbTtyPAbhaA7s0aX8sFZDAbIf~gdcphSHs0J~Jq8Wjwx6osHHgmS9n1vAVBrDPTtZ0KsmwXn3JzngcOIUAxtmaqQyDHi6BI0xm3WjO3lmn1fvGD~ucTUI7BLJvZVAWVwevX7KZp2BETKvaV3DQVADFbV7HdIW1BRY3-RY68iYCVIEoMDvAT6j2TQVP2Bpz2KJns5PALl8l4w8FN~VDtn4SW1i64m3~qhjSBDDfH1Tlg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Minuteman Regional Superintendent Heidi Driscoll and business manager Nikki Andrade presented the vocational school's proposed fiscal 2026 budget to the Acton Finance Committee, saying the district plans a total budget just under $32.5 million with an operating increase of about 5.5 percent.

Driscoll said the FY26 budget reflects the district's priorities of academics and vocational programming across 19 trades and extracurricular activities. \"We have rigorous academics, we have vocational programs, we have 19 different vocational programs,\" Driscoll said, and she highlighted that 83 Acton students currently attend Minuteman across the various programs.

Nikki Andrade detailed the numbers behind the increase. She said the district's total assessment is about $3.5 million; without the school building debt the assessment would be just under $2.9 million. The district's total operating budget is roughly $32.5 million, an overall increase of 2.99% year over year with an operating-budget increase of approximately 5.5%. Andrade attributed much of the operating increase to a planned rise in the district's contribution to its OPEB (other post-employment benefits) trust, which the district's committee recommended increasing by $300,000 in FY26 and then by 5% annually going forward.

The presenters told the committee that Minuteman closed out its Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) project in August 2024 and had paid off a temporary BAN, leaving smaller ongoing debt-service payments for the building. Andrade also listed several budget drivers: a 3% contractual increase in the collective bargaining agreement, step/column movement for veteran staff, higher procurement costs for materials used in vocational programs (metal, wood and specialty supplies), increases in general liability and building insurance, and a new transportation contract that will begin July 1.

On enrollment and assessments, Andrade said the district had 669 students total, 632 from member towns; Acton currently has 83 students enrolled. Acton's preliminary assessment was reported as a decrease of about 1.73% year over year. Andrade explained the district's assessment formula uses a combination of a four-year rolling average of student slots, a small 1% factor, and DESE's combined effort yield to distribute capital costs among member towns.

Committee members asked about building maintenance and warranty items in the relatively new facility (opened in fall 2019) and about the long-term plan for the district's unfunded OPEB liability, which Andrade said currently stands at just over $22 million with a trust balance of roughly $1.7 million; at the planned funding trajectory the district projects being substantially funded by about 2040.

The presenters invited finance committee members to tour the campus and offered to provide more detail on capital requests and the MSBA-recommended recommissioning pilot the district is participating in.

Why it matters: Minuteman is a regional district serving nine member towns; its operating and capital assessments feed directly into member-town budgets and tax bills. The district's decision to increase OPEB contributions and ongoing operating costs influences Acton's midterm budget planning and the finance committee's review of the town's FY26 warrant.

The district provided additional follow-up materials and agreed to respond to technical questions from the committee ahead of the town meeting.

Ending: The finance committee accepted the Minuteman presentation and later moved to recommend the Minuteman assessment article on the warrant; that recommendation was recorded by the committee during the same meeting.","Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical High School officials reviewed the district's proposed FY26 budget, citing a $32.5 million total budget, a 5.5% operating increase driven by OPEB and materials costs, and a net preliminary assessment for Acton that falls about 1.73% below last year.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6623674,"Water Resources Advisory Committee requests finance committee review of stormwater utility study",141,487000,628000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2769453-1ed3ece0841c7a9983c4af1b3e60453b&start=487&end=628","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2769453-1ed3ece0841c7a9983c4af1b3e60453b/thumbnail_487000.jpg","/articles/6623674/Town-of-Acton/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Water-Resources-Advisory-Committee-requests-finance-committee-review-of-stormwater-utility-study","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6623674-190c171407094a3273c8837fe2c9f44a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770439314&Signature=OikmxOM~UEnpZ-T3jPc56zflErwkzVxTFSey94qu77qzopZGEOJshYjgDL~4ax4VHlClnzZTYwpxnCVUJccchBH27uJIbonojOheaGFBu3sUy8IS946f2c6QhCg7uQ8Rxt41jqzbBWqGAMuyWqBnWWtxmiGGtXM2oJLY00e40nlXR~YlBjBTLGnz0YQJNChAFc9QUOnVNcwdBd~VRf98Gf76barripCYQMpv0Ef0wMSD6tre4j8rV3gHvV2M5uI6DbjbScSL892zestoCxuBEXTWnP9W3YmSCOGI8cASBXwtu-HaZXufD3EZ242eaguhnUGUgCaL~DEstz7y513P3w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Members of the Water Resources Advisory Committee (WRAC) asked the Acton Finance Committee for time on a future agenda to preview their planned public outreach meeting on stormwater funding.

WRAC members Ron Parente and Mike Geiss told the finance committee they intend to hold an outreach meeting in late May to discuss stormwater funding and management, including the possibility of forming a stormwater utility and an enterprise fund. Ron Parente asked to appear before the finance committee in April for a dry run of the presentation; the town manager and committee agreed a first May finance-committee meeting would be suitable and asked WRAC to share slides in advance if the committee could not accommodate a full 20-minute presentation.

Committee members said they would prefer to receive WRAC materials in advance and that the committee could provide feedback by email or at a brief, scheduled session. The committee agreed to schedule WRAC for its first meeting in May and asked staff to coordinate timing.

Why it matters: Stormwater funding methods (enterprise fund vs. general-fund budgeting) have direct budgetary implications for the town and possibly for ratepayers or property owners if a dedicated utility fee is instituted. WRAC sought committee input in the run-up to town meeting outreach and noted the committee's recommendation could influence how the town frames any future warrant article.

Ending: WRAC will share presentation materials in advance and will appear at the finance committee's first meeting in May for feedback and a potential dry run of the public outreach presentation.","Members of Acton's Water Resources Advisory Committee asked the Finance Committee for a finance-committee presentation slot in May to review outreach materials and a draft proposal on forming a stormwater utility, enterprise fund options, and funding approaches.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6623679,"Residents raise legal and cost concerns about Memorial Library home-rule petition; citizen petitions filed",8942,255000,9197000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2769453-1ed3ece0841c7a9983c4af1b3e60453b&start=255&end=9197","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2769453-1ed3ece0841c7a9983c4af1b3e60453b/thumbnail_255000.jpg","/articles/6623679/Town-of-Acton/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Residents-raise-legal-and-cost-concerns-about-Memorial-Library-home-rule-petition-citizen-petitions-filed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6623679-ca83089e3469d801c7bb75ee8cde4702/orig.mp4?Expires=1770439314&Signature=KYODbxJ-KfnssQy9b29~VNzs2~Efz2hsV8r34RUdlHbrIKKFTDsFMn25MyTCJwsgkKrEhq48tUxs9yLUKDx5GPCwBVLyOf3T0gEFK0BU7LdpWvByPUm3lALC8nmRfQ6fY3~KVTPLIrDP62GiPqy3VMKxyW33wAO32ilHl4gOcBcam6XSJGL8g3o85NrC6mDDKypnI-nKd1qAdUtBiE1FhkwVfhPPBrPE56oK2lXwIL-Yj4bi5s59m10fkuZOxVRC0AiUyR3vSMIaw3-pH8bweu5QFgzrsEIoDELosvuPTgFTAN2eqChNY6LGHCGlkpPYpiCouqCZSwO3UAIlJ1Owag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A resident from West Acton addressed the Finance Committee about a proposed Town home-rule petition concerning the Memorial Library and the effect it might have on the Citizens Library trustees. The speaker said they were not a lead petitioner but expressed opposition in principle and asked to see the petition language before final action.

The resident said Friends of the Citizens Library had obtained a nine-page legal memo raising concerns that a home-rule petition could be used to change or override deed-based restrictions governing the Citizens Library, potentially exposing the Town to legal fees and litigation. \"I'm concerned as a taxpayer that the town is spending money on legal fees for such a thing and that it could get very large if people believe that it is unlawful,\" the resident said, noting that the presenter had not yet seen the petition text and that the lead town staff contact (Alex Lenz) was not available at the meeting.

Town staff and committee members told the resident they wanted to see the petition language and suggested the resident connect with Alex Lenz; the committee deferred substantive action until the petition text is provided and asked town counsel to coordinate review. Later in the meeting several citizen-petition warrant articles related to the Citizens Library (Articles 37, 38 and 39 in the draft warrant packet) were presented; the committee deferred those items and asked the petitioners to work with town counsel and staff (Alex Lenz) before the committee takes a recommendation.

Why it matters: Home-rule petitions can change the Town's statutory relationship with bodies or alter local governance arrangements; where deeds or state law constrain local authority, changes can prompt litigation or procedural challenges. Residents and the finance committee asked for the petition language and legal review before taking a formal recommendation to town meeting.

Ending: The finance committee asked staff to coordinate with petitioners and town counsel; the petitions were deferred for follow-up and the resident was advised to connect with Alex Lenz for the draft language and legal analysis ahead of the committee's next meeting.","A West Acton resident urged the Finance Committee to delay consideration and publicize language for a proposed Town home-rule petition affecting the Memorial Library and the Citizens Library trustees; separate citizen petitions on the topic were filed and deferred for follow-up with town counsel and the lead petitioner.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Acton Finance Committee issues recommendations on FY26 warrant; municipal budget recommended with dissent

Minuteman Regional presents FY26 budget; Acton assessment declines slightly

Water Resources Advisory Committee requests finance committee review of stormwater utility study

Residents raise legal and cost concerns about Memorial Library home-rule petition; citizen petitions filed