Acton manager: FY27 budget approved; town hall HVAC, bell tower and several capital projects moving forward
June 12, 2026 | Acton-Boxborough Regional School District, School Boards, Massachusetts
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Town Manager John Manerati told seniors at the Java with John event that Town Meeting overwhelmingly approved the FY27 budget and several capital projects that will begin as the fiscal year closes on June 30.
"Everyone at town meeting overwhelmingly approved our budget for FY27. So, we're off and running starting July 1st," Manerati said, adding staff are closing the books and preparing to implement projects approved by the meeting.
Manerati said the town received a $1 million grant to advance an all‑electric town hall HVAC and emergency power replacement project. He added the aging bell tower is structurally unsafe and will be replaced with CPA funding so clocks can be restored and the bell rung again; the project will require relocating some town services temporarily.
On housing, Manerati described a nearly completed apartment development that will add about 200 units, roughly 25% of which will be offered at affordable rents via a lottery, and said McManus Manor — a 40‑unit senior housing project — will open later this summer.
He also thanked congressional and federal support for work on the Asa Parland House, describing a $750,000 congressional earmark and ARPA funding used to advance the project and inviting the public to a noon celebration. The town celebrated a recent dog‑park opening and is planning a River Street Park with historic design features.
Manerati discussed the long-running Kelly's Corner project, noting temporary pavement markings can be confusing and final markings will be installed after paving is complete; the contractor delivered about 130 trees and more than half have already been planted. He cautioned some temporary patterns — including a double yellow near a business driveway — will be corrected with final striping and signage.
Manerati said several projects are state‑led or dependent on external approvals and timelines can stretch several years; he asked for patience and promised ongoing public updates.
No formal votes or funding reallocations beyond the previously approved warrant were announced at the event.
"Everyone at town meeting overwhelmingly approved our budget for FY27. So, we're off and running starting July 1st," Manerati said, adding staff are closing the books and preparing to implement projects approved by the meeting.
Manerati said the town received a $1 million grant to advance an all‑electric town hall HVAC and emergency power replacement project. He added the aging bell tower is structurally unsafe and will be replaced with CPA funding so clocks can be restored and the bell rung again; the project will require relocating some town services temporarily.
On housing, Manerati described a nearly completed apartment development that will add about 200 units, roughly 25% of which will be offered at affordable rents via a lottery, and said McManus Manor — a 40‑unit senior housing project — will open later this summer.
He also thanked congressional and federal support for work on the Asa Parland House, describing a $750,000 congressional earmark and ARPA funding used to advance the project and inviting the public to a noon celebration. The town celebrated a recent dog‑park opening and is planning a River Street Park with historic design features.
Manerati discussed the long-running Kelly's Corner project, noting temporary pavement markings can be confusing and final markings will be installed after paving is complete; the contractor delivered about 130 trees and more than half have already been planted. He cautioned some temporary patterns — including a double yellow near a business driveway — will be corrected with final striping and signage.
Manerati said several projects are state‑led or dependent on external approvals and timelines can stretch several years; he asked for patience and promised ongoing public updates.
No formal votes or funding reallocations beyond the previously approved warrant were announced at the event.
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