Hampden Town Meeting Rejects School Capital Assessment
Hampden Town Meeting passes $18.6 million budget, rejects school capital assessment, keeps Community Preservation Act. Moderator Richard R.
Town Meeting · Meeting of May 11, 2026
Hampden Town Meeting passes $18.6 million budget, rejects school capital assessment, keeps Community Preservation Act. Moderator Richard R. Green presided over the 155-voter meeting, which approved the full $18,600,891 fiscal 2027 budget unanimously but voted down $34,652 for the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District's capital assessment.
A repeal of the town's 25-year-old Community Preservation Act failed after Parks and Recreation Director Dan Blanchard said "no Massachusetts community that has adopted Community Preservation Act funds has stopped funding them," noting the $48-a-year average household cost has funded 48 local projects. A Selectboard member called the 1 percent surcharge, "a small investment." Voters also approved up to $155,000 in CPA funds for two land purchases, including a corrected 2.676-acre North Road deal replacing a flawed 2024 appropriation, and moved warrant postings from the old Town House to the new Town Hall at 85 Wilbraham Road.
In the full story:
- The complete report — 1,173 words
Source: the Town Meeting meeting of May 11, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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