Town Meeting Weighs In On Budget, Capital Projects In Andover

ANDOVER, MA — Voters approved a $258.7 million operating budget, authorized school and economic development investments, and rejected a proposal for a synthetic turf field during Annual Town Meeting.

The meeting was held April 28 and April 29 at the Collins Center for the Performing Arts at Andover High School. According to the town, 639 voters checked in on the first night and 379 on the second.

Subscribe

One of the most significant actions taken was approval of Article 4, the town’s Fiscal Year 2027 operating budget totaling $258,684,234.

Town Meeting also approved several capital spending articles tied to the town’s five-year Capital Improvement Program. The appropriations, approved under Articles 5 through 8, fund infrastructure, facility, and utility projects through a combination of borrowing, free cash, the Capital Projects Fund, and the Water and Sewer Enterprise Fund.

A proposal to spend $5 million on improvements at the Chandler Road Recreation Area failed to gain the required two-thirds majority needed for borrowing authorization.

The project, considered under Article 9, included plans for new recreational amenities and a multi-use synthetic turf field. While the proposal received majority support, with 357 voters in favor and 202 opposed, it fell short of the supermajority threshold. Twenty-two voters abstained.

During the second night of Town Meeting, voters approved a $3.85 million appropriation for improvements at Andover High School. The funding will be used for new furniture and security upgrades.

Residents also approved two Tax Increment Financing agreements intended to encourage investment and economic growth in the River Road corridor. The agreements support projects proposed by AdvanCell at 4 Corporate Drive and Onto Innovation at the former Philips Medical campus on Minuteman Road.

More information is available from the town by clicking here.