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Acton Town Meeting (2026-05-04)
Of the articles in the Town Meeting warrant (warrant = agenda) this year, most are uncontroversial, so I’ll focus only on the (likely) controversial ones.
Budgets Are Priorities
As a point of order, I note that budgets are priorities, as are things that are not in budgets. At a high level I am:
- In favor of things that prioritize people & places; and
- Opposed to things that prioritize vehicles & traffic.
But that’s a little bit like being in favor of clean air and clean water. So let me spin this out a little more.
False Choices
I am a big fan of the book “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen_and_the_Art_of_Motorcycle_Maintenance), and in many cases, the proper answer to the spending questions posed by the various warrant articles is “mu” – namely, to “unask the question” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mu_(negative)#Non-dualistic_meaning). “Mu” means, essentially, that you are denying the premise on which the question is based. The classic example of this is a reporter asking a candidate: “Are you still beating your spouse?” If yes, then you are a spouse beater; if no, then you are a former spouse beater.
So what we have in the 2026 Acton Town Election warrant (https://www.actonma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/11543/FINAL-2026-ATM-WARRANT) are many false choices. We are asked to fund such-and-so project or not to fund the project, when the real choice is threefold: (1) fund this project, (2) fund another project, or (3) don’t spend the money at all. Here is a spreadsheet (2026-04-21-Acton-Budget-And-False-Choices.ods) showing the items included and excluded from this year’s warrant. There are almost as many excluded items (12) as included items (16). I’m pretty sure that Actoninas would prefer sidewalks, libraries, and fireworks over some of the expenses included in this year’s warrant. Did you get a vote about what was included and excluded? I know I didn’t.
| Line | Ref | CapEx (Borrowed) or OpEx (Not Borrowed) | Expense | Cost (Total Per 10-Year Plan) |
Cost (One Year per 10-Year Plan) |
Cost (One Year Per Warrant) |
Page (10-Year Plan) |
Page (Warrant) |
Notes |
| 2 | blank | CapEx | Sewer System | $0 | $0 | $0 | 30 | 0 | not in warrant, arguably the most expensive unplanned capital project |
| 3 | blank | CapEx | Sidewalk Construction – Per TAC Priority List | $35,000,000 | $1,105,682 | $0 | 9, 17 | 0 | not in warrant, 30 years @ 4.25% |
| 4 | blank. | CapEx | DWP Building Project | $22,993,895 | $726,398 | $0 | 0 | 0 | not in warrant, 30 years @ 4.25% |
| 5 | blank | CapEx | Town Hall HVAC and Emergency Power – Replacment | $2,750,000 | $86,875 | $86,875 | 9 | 30 | none |
| 6 | blank | CapEx | Fire Engine 21- Replacement | $1,710,000 | $247,675 | $0 | 9 | 0 | not in warrant |
| 7 | DPW | CapEx | Public Works Facility – Design | $900,000 | $54,096 | $54,096 | 9 | 31 | none |
| 8 | blank | CapEx | Complete Streets Grant Program | $900,000 | $98,250 | $101,136 | 9 | 27 | none |
| 9 | blank | CapEx | Stormwater Management Program (Including Bridges & Culverts) |
$700,000 | $99,750 | $100,000 | 9 | 27 | none |
| 10 | CAP-1 | Mixed | Public Safety Facility HVAC System Replacement – Design | blank | $200,000 | $0 | 11 | 0 | not in warrant |
| 11 | FD-2 | Mixed | Ambulance Program – Replacement | $855,000 | $161,338 | $0 | 11 | 0 | not in warrant |
| 12 | FD-3 | Mixed | Fire Department Command Vehicles – Replacement | blank | $126,500 | $0 | 11 | 0 | not in warrant |
| 13 | blank | Mixed | Acquisition of Real Property – 46 Taylor Road | $1,445,000 | $45,649 | $45,649 | 0 | 39 | 30 years @ 4.25% |
| 14 | REC-4 | Mixed | NARA Park Signage – Replacement | blank | $20,000 | $20,000 | 11 | 0 | not in warrant |
| 15 | PD-1 | OpEx | Police Fleet Cruiser – Replacement | $250,000 | $250,000 | $220,000 | 10 | 27 | none |
| 16 | FAC-4 | OpEx | Building Envelope and Interior Improvements | $200,000 | $200,000 | $200,000 | 10 | 27 | none |
| 17 | IT-CDSR-1 | OpEx | Core Switching and Routing Enclosure – Replacement | $200,000 | $200,000 | $180,000 | 10 | 27 | none |
| 18 | LB-1 | OpEx | Memorial Library Redesign – Design | $95,000 | $95,000 | $0 | 10 | 0 | not in warrant |
| 19 | FAC-21 | OpEx | Facilities Department 2015 F250 Pickup Truck – Replacment | $65,000 | $65,000 | $65,000 | 10 | 27 | none |
| 20 | FAC-1 | OpEx | Facilities Roof – Design | $60,000 | $60,000 | $20,000 | 10 | 27 | none |
| 21 | FD-5 | OpEx | Portable Radios Phase II – Replacement | $60,000 | $60,000 | $60,000 | 10 | 27 | none |
| 22 | TM-1 | OpEx | Morrison Farm – Design | $50,000 | $50,000 | $10,000 | 10 | 27 | none |
| 23 | FAC-34 | OpEx | Town Hall Bell Tower Stabilization – Design | $50,000 | $50,000 | $0 | 10 | 0 | not in warrant |
| 24 | FAC-18 | OpEx | Fire Escapes at Three Fire Stations – Replacement | $50,000 | $50,000 | $0 | 10 | 0 | not in warrant |
| 25 | PD-3 | OpEx | PowerDMS Cloud Based Software | $40,000 | $40,000 | $40,000 | 10 | 27 | none |
| 26 | CEL-1 | OpEx | Fireworks for July 4th – CANCELED | $40,000 | $40,000 | $0 | 10 | 0 | not in warrant |
| 27 | IT-Infra-structure-1 | OpEx | Switch and Firewall Program – Replacement | $30,000 | $30,000 | $30,000 | 10 | 27 | none |
| 28 | FD-4 | OpEx | Fire Hoses – Replacement | $25,000 | $25,000 | $25,000 | 10 | 27 | none |
| 29 | TOTAL | $68,468,895 | $4,187,213 | $1,257,756 |
And, yes, there are errors in my spreadsheet. All of the details of Acton’s budget are extraordinarily difficult to digest (by design, I believe). I note that page 22 of the Town Manager’s 10-year plan includes the $200K proposed budget (for the proposed “Core Switching and Routing Enclosure Replacement” project) twice. So errors and omissions abound. And I don’t have a staff.
The “don’t spend the money at all” option should be a popular choice for most of the warrant articles, especially given the dire situation outlined by the Finance Committee in the warrant. Here’s a snippet (from pages 15-16, emphasis added) of FinCom’s position:
“The Acton Leadership Group (ALG) consensus multi-year financial forecast shows deficits in 2028 to 2031 totaling $29 million. [To address these deficits:] First, we need to carefully consider and limit adding new expenditures. Second, we need to look at expenditure cuts that do not impact service levels. Third, we need to look at services that could be reduced or cut services. Finally, we need to continue the work of expanding our commercial tax base.”
A financial storm is coming, so as a town, Acton must prioritize NEEDS over WANTS.
With that, on to the controversial articles.
Article 5: Appropriations for Town Capital Equipment and Projects ($1,051,136 in 11 Categories)
From the warrant:
“To see if the Town will raise and appropriate, and/or appropriate from available funds a sum of money to be expended by the Town Manager for the purchase, replacement, study, design and implementation of programs, vehicles, equipment, improvement of facilities or infrastructure as listed below, including all costs incidental and related thereto, or take any other action relative thereto.”
I will vote yes on all except that I will vote NO on the following:
- B. Police Fleet – Cruiser Replacement (3) – $220,000
- F. Replace – 2015 F250 for Facilities – $65,000
I would put a spending freeze in place on all new expenses that have not been in the 10-year capital plan for at least 10 years. This includes all vehicle purchases (and the HVAC project, below). I have heard that the DPW has more trucks than employees, so perhaps Facilities can use one of those. Or, better yet, the town can have a “library” of generic vehicles that can be reserved and checked out/in on as as-needed basis.
Article 6: Authorize Borrowing for Town Hall HVAC and Emergency Power Replacement Project
From the warrant:
“To see if the Town will raise and appropriate, appropriate from available funds and/or borrow a sum of money to be expended by the Town Manager for the Town Hall HVAC and Emergency Power Replacement Project, including all costs incidental and related thereto; or take any other action relative thereto.”
Summary: “This borrowing authorization request of $2.75 million is for the replacement of the HVAC system, emergency power system, and related repairs at Town Hall. The total project cost is estimated at $3.75 million.”
I will vote NO on this project. It makes no sense to spend $2.75 million dollars on a project just because the state is willing to grant $1 million for the project. (This is related to the “sunk cost” fallacy.) Perhaps a different solution – with or without a grant – can be implemented at a lower cost. Furthermore, the first time a multi-million dollar Town Hall HVAC project appeared in the Town Mangaer’s 10-year capital plan was on 2023-12-11, about 2.5 years ago. It seems to me that the HVAC project can “take a number” to the other projects that have been on the 10-year capital plan for at least 10 years.
There are about 50 people who work in Town Hall. This project would cost about $75,000 per employee. We could give each employee $1,000 to install window air conditioners in their homes, and that would cost only $50,000.
About the only reason I can fathom for Town Hall needing emergency power (in the first place) is to keep the computers running. If this is the case – if this is the NEED, then simply outsource the computers to a competent managed service provider (https://www.google.com/search?q=municipality+managed+service+provider). I’m pretty sure that this would cost less than $3.75 million.
Article 7: Authorize Borrowing for Design of a New Public Works Facility at 14 Forest Road
From the warrant:
“To see if the Town will raise and appropriate, appropriate from available funds and/or borrow a sum of money to be expended by the Town Manager for the for Design of a Renovation of Existing and New Public Works Facility at 14 Forest Road, including all costs incidental and related thereto; or take any other action relative thereto.”
Summary: “The Town is requesting $900K to advance the design of the DPW Building project.”
I will vote YES on this project because I believe that the final design should include funding for sidewalks for the DPW neighborhood.
Article 13: Authorize Acquisition of Property Located at 46 Taylor Road ($1,445,000)
I have heard that Acton has “had its eye on” this property for some time, yet the purchase of this property is not in any of the 10-year plans that I could find. What other properties does Acton have its eye on? I’d vote for 27 Minot Avenue, since that property sits within the footprint of the Arboretum’s famous kettle bog. I’m not sure how that house got built in the first place.
Acton needs housing, and Acton needs open space. I will vote YES on this project because I believe the one-acre portion that borders Minot Avenue should be combined with the other two adjacent properties to create a three-acre parcel that would be ideal for (hopefully affordable) townhouses. The townhouses across the street from the Discovery Museum would be an excellent model for this project.
Summary
Needs vs. wants, needs vs. wants. I want a new kitchen, but I don’t need a new kitchen.
Tell your pals, and please attend Town Meeting starting Monday, May 4, 2026, 7:00am (6:00pm check-in), at ABRHS, 36 Charter Rd, Acton MA 01720 (https://actonma.gov/599/Town-Meeting)!
LEGAL DISCLAIMER & NOTICE: The “Sidewalks For Acton” campaign was started by and is funded by GiantPeople LLC, a single-person LLC founded in 1999 by Erik J. Heels (heels@alum.mit.edu). Erik is a small business owner, a USAF veteran, and has been an Actonian since 1995. Except for a one-year stint from 2024-2025, Erik has never belonged to any political party. Opinions expressed herein are Erik’s individually, not the opinions of any Acton board or committee.
