PRESS RELEASE: Select Board Votes to Place Fire Station 1 Debt Exclusion Question on November 3 Ballot

Thanks to the Town of Westwood for sharing this news with Westwood Minute. 

WESTWOOD, MA — At its August 3, 2026, meeting, the Westwood Select Board voted to place a Proposition 21⁄2 debt exclusion question related to the Fire Station 1 (FS1) project on the November 3, 2026, state election ballot.

To move forward, the FS1 project will require two separate votes by Westwood residents:

• Special Town Meeting (tentatively scheduled for October 26, 2026): Residents will consider the proposed project, including the total project cost, funding plan, and authorization to borrow.
• November 3, 2026, State Election: Residents will vote on whether the Town may exempt the debt service associated with the project from the limits of Proposition 21⁄2.
• The recommended FS1 project site
• Total project cost
• Proposed funding sources, including borrowing and other available funds
• Estimated residential property tax impact
• Additional project details regarding design, permitting, construction, and completion

The goal of placing the debt exclusion question on the November 3 state election ballot is to maximize voter participation in this important community decision. Discussions regarding the timing of a potential November ballot began in early June.

The Board determined that this election would provide the greatest opportunity for residents to participate, as historical voter turnout data shows significantly higher participation in state elections compared to stand-alone municipal elections. The Board believes placing the FS1 question on the November ballot will allow the largest number of residents possible to have a voice in this decision.

Why did the Select Board vote on ballot language before the final FS1 site recommendation?

The timing of the Select Board’s vote was driven by state election deadlines.

Massachusetts law requires municipalities seeking to place a Proposition 21⁄2 debt exclusion question on a November state election ballot to submit the required notification to the Secretary of the Commonwealth by the first Wednesday in August. For the November 3, 2026, election, the Town was required to approve and certify the ballot question and submit the required materials by August 4, 2026.

The ballot question language is established by state law and does not identify a specific project location or address. As a result, the language approved by the Select Board would remain the same regardless of which site is recommended for the FS1 project.

“The timing of this vote was driven by the requirements of state law and the election calendar,” said Select Board Clerk Erin Sibley. “Even though the final site recommendation process was still underway, the ballot language itself does not change based on the selected location. Residents will have the complete project information, including the recommended site, total project cost, funding sources, and estimated tax impact, in advance of the Special Town Meeting, where the project will first come before voters for approval.”

What will voters know prior to Town Meeting and the November 3 election?

Residents will have detailed information about the FS1 project before they are asked to vote.

As part of the Town Meeting process, the Finance and Warrant Commission will hold public meetings and hearings regarding the proposed warrant article. The materials presented to voters will include:

The project costs, which will be presented this fall, will reflect the complete scope of the project from voter approval through completion, including design development, permitting, bidding, construction, construction administration, and other related costs.

The Proposition 21⁄2 debt exclusion ballot question itself does not approve a project budget. Instead, it asks voters whether the Town may exclude the debt service associated with the project, as approved by Town Meeting, from the limitations of Proposition 21⁄2.

The Town remains committed to providing residents with transparent and timely information throughout the FS1 process. Additional project information, meeting materials, and updates are available at https://www.westwoodfs1.com/.

---

Editor's note: For related information on this topic, see Westwood Minute's August 3, 2026 article dated: "Westwood Select Board Places Fire Station 1 Debt-Exclusion Question on November Ballot (Updated)."