Actons Narrow Budget Override Passes

Acton's Budget Override Vote: Reflections from Together for Acton campaign

Hear from the front-lines: Together for Acton perspective

In a vote that showcased both division and dedication among the residents of Acton, the recent budget override passed by a mere 37 votes. This decision has sparked a variety of emotions within the community, reflecting concerns about educational funding and community values in times of economic pressure.

We reached out to togetherforacton.org and keepactionaffordable.org to share their feelings on how the feel the campaign went. We only heard back from Together for Acton team, so, posted below is our Q & A. If we hear back from Keep Acton Affordable team, we'll post back. Thanks to Mike for responding to our Q&A on this important topic!

Reflection on the Outcome

Q: What was your initial reaction to the election results?

A: I was relieved and disappointed at the same time. A win is a win and I’m so happy that the override passed, but it was disappointing that it came down to 37 votes. I’ve been a teacher in Acton for 19 years and a resident for 10; I’ve always assumed that the school district was something that united the community. It’s been hard to process how voters could be so divided.

Q: How do you feel the community's support for the "yes" vote reflects on Acton's priorities or values?

A: I think the split vote suggests that there is still strong support overall for public education in Acton, but that support is not unlimited, especially when everyone is feeling the effects of high costs and rising inflation in their own budgets.

Q: What do you think were the key factors that contributed to the success of the "yes" vote?

A: I think the Together for Acton campaign worked really, really hard to engage with as many voters as possible. We tried to prioritize one-on-one conversations more than anything else by handing out flyers across the community and knocking on doors. I personally spoke with hundreds of voters sharing my perspective as an educator, and I think that made a big difference.

Q: Were there specific arguments or messages that resonated most with voters?

A: Early on, before the “Keep Acton Affordable” campaign started, what resonated most with voters was learning about the need for an override for the first time, before anyone else was talking about it. Having clear information and a comprehensive website was key to informing residents about the needs of students and teachers. The number of staff members that would be cut was definitely a data point that convinced a lot of voters to support the override.

Q: What immediate changes should residents expect as a result of this vote?

A: None! Nobody’s taxes will go up until July 1. And we won’t know the full impact on taxes until the school district’s budget actually passes at Acton and Boxborough Town Meetings on May 6 and May 13, respectively.

Q: How do you see this decision impacting the community in the long term?

A: I think a lot of people, including me, have taken for granted that when the schools need support, the community will rally. The fact that a really important override vote passed by a tiny margin tells me that Acton is a much more divided community than any of us thought when it comes to educational funding.

Q: What were some of the biggest challenges faced during the campaign?

A: Time, for sure. Many of us working on the campaign have children and work full time, so trying to find time on nights and weekends to get the work done while also living busy parenting lives was hard. A lot of us are very tired at this point!

Q: How were these challenges addressed?

A: We made it work. This was really, really important to us.

Q: How do you plan to address the concerns of those who voted "no"?

A: I think that’s a better question for the Select Board and the School Committee!

Q: Is there a plan to engage with the opposition to ensure their voices are heard moving forward?

A: I think that’s a better question for the Select Board and the School Committee!

Q: What are the next steps now that the vote has passed?

A: Of course, passing the town and school budgets at Acton Town Meeting on May 6, and passing the school budget at Boxborough Town Meeting on May 13.

Q: How can members of the community get involved or stay informed about the developments?

A: I think the most important thing community members can do is take an active role in our school system. Volunteer. Substitute teach. Find ways to help our teachers. Try to understand how education has changed, and why robust funding is so critical to the work we do as educators.

Q: What has been the most rewarding part of being involved in this campaign?

A: Winning, even a really close election, was obviously a huge reward. And working with volunteers who care as much as I do about public education was deeply, deeply rewarding. I feel like I made lifelong friendships with people in the community through Together for Acton.

Q: Are there any lessons learned from this experience that you think are important to share?

A: Yes! We can’t take educational funding for granted, even in a school district with a strong reputation like Acton-Boxborough. If we want resources for students and teachers, we need to fight for them.

Q: Anything else you would like to share?

A: Thank you for the opportunity to speak about the campaign!

The recent budget override vote in Acton was more than a fiscal decision; it was a reflection of the community's priorities, challenges, and resilience. As Acton moves forward, the outcomes of this vote will likely resonate in the community's collective efforts and individual actions toward a balanced future.

Thanks Mike and the Together for Acton team for the Q & A!