Acton approves FY27 budget; town manager highlights $24 million in competitive grants

Acton voters approved the fiscal year 2027 budget at last week's town meeting, and Town Manager John Manjurati said the town is starting work to close out FY26 and to implement projects funded by new and existing grants.

"We had 38 articles. Every single one that we've proposed to be approved was approved," Manjurati said, noting one article was set aside. He confirmed the FY27 budget will take effect July 1 and said staff will spend the next weeks closing the current fiscal year.

Manjurati detailed the town's grant activity and capital plans: in the past six years the town has secured more than $24 million in competitive grants (not counting formula or automatic programs such as CARES and ARPA). Examples he cited include a roughly $1,000,000 state grant earmarked for streetscape improvements near new apartment construction and a large state grant helping replace town hall's HVAC and add a new generator.

He said grant-writing is a team effort across the town manager's office, the DPW director and town engineer, the conservation office and the sustainability office depending on project scope. "So it's a team effort," he said, and described a process where small design investments approved at town meeting are combined with successful state applications to fund larger capital projects.

On economic development, Manjurati said changes approved to zoning bylaws at town meeting aim to remove outdated hurdles to commercial investment; he noted some uses remain constrained by wastewater capacity and that targeted TIF agreements remain one tool to attract large employers.

What happens next

Manjurati said staff will announce details this summer for temporary relocations while town hall's HVAC and structural bell-tower work proceed, and that the town will continue to pursue grant funding and monitor implementation schedules.

Provenance: First discussion at SEG 020 and last related grant and implementation details at SEG 1166.