HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-03-23-CEC-ATM-rptCAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE
TOWN OF LEXINGTON
REPORT TO THE
2026 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING (ATM)
Released March 23, 2026
Submitted By:
Charles Lamb, Chair
Lisah Rhodes, Vice Chair
Rodney Cole
Sandy Beebee
Michael Boudett
Marc Rubenstein
This Report supersedes the Report dated March 18, 2026
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
Table of Contents
Foreword................................................................................................................................. .
Mission.....................................................................................................................................
Howto Read This Report.........................................................................................................
CapitalBudget..........................................................................................................................
CapitalProjects............................................................................................................
TheProject Agenda......................................................................................................
The Community Preservation Act.................................................................................
Enterprise Fund Projects..............................................................................................
Five -Year Capital Plan
Conservation & Open Space
Lexington Community Center
Fire Department
Police Department
Cary Memorial Library
Public Works
Public Facilities
Recreation
Schools
Innovation & Technology
Town Clerk's Office
Affordable Housing
Planning
2026 ATM Warrant -Article Explanations & Recommendations
Article 7: Sustainable Capital Projects
Article 10: Appropriate for the FY2027 Community Preservation Committee
Operating Budget and CPA Projects
(a) Document Conservation
(b) Munroe Center for the Arts Cash Refinancing
(c) Affordable Housing Trust Funding
(d) LexHAB Affordable Housing Support, Restoration, and Preservation
(e) Park Improvements -Athletic Fields - Harrington: Phase 2
(f) Playground Infrastructure Upgrades
(g) Administrative Budget
Article 11: Appropriate for Recreation Capital Projects
(a) Pine Meadows Equipment
(b) Pine Meadows Improvements
Article 12: Appropriate for Municipal Capital Projects and Equipment
(a) Transportation Mitigation
(b) Bicycle -Pedestrian Plan Implementation: Minuteman Bikeway to LHS
(c) Townwide Bicycle -Pedestrian Plan Implementation
(d) Fire Ladder Truck
(e) Equipment Replacement
(f) Sidewalk Improvements
(g) Hydrant Replacement
(h) Street Improvements
(i) Stormwater Management Program
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
(j) DPW Building Floor Repairs
(k) Burlington & North Street Sidewalk
(1) Adams Street Intersection Improvements at East & Hancock Streets
(m) Hartwell Training Facility Paving
(n) Municipal Technology Improvement Program
(o) Application Implementation
(p) Network Technology Improvements
Article 13: Appropriate for Water Systems Improvements
Article 14: Appropriate for Wastewater System Improvements
(a) Sanitary Sewer System Investigation and Improvements
(b) Pump Station Building Improvements
Article 15: Appropriate for School Capital Projects and Equipment
Article 16: Appropriate Public Facilities Capital Projects
(a) Public Facilities Bid Documents
(b) Public Facilities Interior Finishes
(c) School Paving and Sidewalks
(d) Public Facilities Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing Replacements
(e) LHS Emergency Equipment Needs
Article 18: Rescind Prior Borrowing Authorizations
Article 19: Establish, Amend, Dissolve and Appropriate To and From Specialized
Stabilization Funds (SFs)
Article 21: Appropriate for Authorized Capital Improvements
Article 23: Appropriate for Trash/Recycling Bins
Article 26: Oversee Financial Expenditures LHS Project (Citizen Petition)
Article 27: Procurement for Online Capital Project Platform (Citizen Petition)
Article 28: Speed Humps - Walnut Street (Citizen Petition)
Appendix A: Information on the Town's Current Specified Stabilization Funds
Appendix B: Acronyms Used
Appendix C: Summary of Warrant Articles Addressed
Appendix D: Affordable Housing Trust 5 Year Capital Plan
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
Foreword
While we encourage you to read this report cover to cover, we also recognize that its
length is prohibitive. Hence, we encourage you to read this section to learn what keeps
our Committee `awake at night'. Additionally, you can use this report as a resource to:
Get details on a particular Capital or Community Preservation Act (CPA) Article.
Get context and historical perspective on a department or a Capital project.
See what future Capital spending is on the radar. Refer to this Committee's
Five -Year Capital Plan (5YCP) starting on Page 17, and the longer term capital
plan on Page 23, both of which list the projects we foresee.
Repeating ourselves for the third year in a row, supply chain and build -lead time issues
continue to plague Lexington Fire and Rescue and the Chief continues to plan for
ambulance and fire truck replacements multiple years sooner than is traditional. As an
example, current projections are 48 months from contract to delivery for the ladder truck
in Article 12(d). There has been extensive press coverage on this national level issue
that affects departments across the US.
The Town has a reasonable free -cash position headed into FY2027, but — as our
finance staff and Appropriation Committee colleagues frequently remind us — utilizing
free cash to fund operations is not the basis of a sound budget because it is one-time
revenue. As a general policy, free cash has and continues to be used to fund cash
capital (a policy which we enthusiastically support because it minimizes debt financing).
And in the past, this Committee's report has said:
However, when the pressure grows on balancing a budget, the policy of using free
cash to fund cash capital is generally the first thing to be given up, reducing the
amount of cash -based capital that can be accomplished in the next fiscal year.
This year, while that statement is still true, it is also true that there is pressure to use
free cash to fund operations. However, the FY2027 budget uses only a small amount
($75,251) of free cash to support the Operational Budget due a shortfall in state aid.
Neither the municipal or school sides received enough to make a level service budget,
resulting in FTE cuts. This is a significant concern for the summit boards and
committees.
If and when in future budgets less free cash is available, then the alternatives are to
either do less in terms of capital projects, or borrow. In the past several budget cycles,
the Town staff and Select Board have made the fiscally responsible decision to continue
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
moving towards a cash -based capital financing policy for all programs'. However, the
less free cash that there is to work with when advancing this policy, the less the Town
can accomplish in moving towards that cash -based capital program financing.
The two finance committees, the staff, and the Select Board take at least a 10 -year view
of big ticket capital projects. The remaining projects on that 10 -year agenda are the:
• East Lexington Fire Station,
• Cary Memorial Library,
• 173 Bedford Street (now occupied by the LPS administration for the next several
years until the new LPS opens, and then to serve as swing space for Cary
Memorial Library during that rebuild),
• Town Office Building,
• Clarke Middle School HVAC,
• Bridge and Bowman Elementary Schools which will need significant updates if for
no other reason than the community will/should demand physical plant and
program parity with the other elementary schools in the district,
• numerous recreation needs, and
• Stone Building.
Lexington High School is slated to be rebuilt using the "Bloom" option, as affirmed by a
Debt Exclusion vote on December 8, 2025. The project cost will be a maximum of
$659.7 million (that includes several contingencies so the actual cost to the taxpayer
may be less depending on how much of those contingencies get used). It is currently in
Design Development phase with ribbon cutting planned for the start of the 2029-2030
school year. Let's be clear: the total project cost cannot exceed $659.7 million without
approval from Town Meeting and the electorate.
For that project, the Town staff have produced a comprehensive debt -service analysis
which proposes a possible financing plan that utilizes our well -endowed Capital
Stabilization Fund (CSF), currently $50.86 million with $6.581 million projected to be
added in FY2027. The Town has been making deposits to that fund for well over a
decade, and it will go a long way towards taxpayer relief when we undertake this
project. The CSF will be used to gradually reduce the impact of the LHS debt service
over (approximately) five years. This plan was presented as part of the tax mitigation
strategy just prior to the debt exclusion. Debt mitigation will begin in FY2027 with an
$800,000 withdrawal from the CSF.
' Within the development of budgets and other financial actions, "program" is used for
already on-going needs while "project" is used for what is considered to be a one-off
endeavor, such as a new building or specific renovation effort, during the five-year
scope of financial planning.
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
Regarding that $6.581 million deposit into the CSF, we note that this amount is derived
from incremental commercial property taxes and these annual deposits are made as
part of a relatively long-standing policy. In effect, those revenues are from the non-
exempt tax levy and are being used to fund excluded debt service for LHS. Using those
revenues to offset LHS debt service is a commitment that was made to the voters prior
to the December 8 Debt Exclusion in the form of the taxpayer impact calculations
advertised before the vote. We raise this point here because, while one could envision
diverting those funds from the CSF to make up FY2027 (and future years) operating
budget shortfalls, such a diversion would effectively renege on the commitment to the
electorate that they be used to offset LHS taxpayer impact. We are not advocates of
such a diversion.
The 2024 Annual Town Meeting approved $10 million of debt for Design and
Engineering for the LHS project (Article 26). Those monies are currently being spent on
the previously mentioned Schematic Design and Design Development phases. Now that
the Debt Exclusion has passed, these monies will be rolled into the excluded debt
service.
This year the Community Preservation Committee voted to continue the $3.2 million
annual request by AHT.
This Committee is appointed by the Moderator and chartered to advise you, Town
Meeting. It is our privilege to serve you.
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
The Mission of the Capital Expenditures Committee
From the Code of the Town of Lexington (§29-13):
D. Each year the Capital Expenditures Committee shall request and receive from
the Town Manager information on all capital expenditures requested by Town
boards and departments that may be required within the ensuing five-year period.
The Committee shall consider the relative need, timing and cost of these
projects, the adequacy thereof and the effect these expenditures might have on
the financial position of the Town.
E. The Committee shall prior to each Town Meeting for the transaction of
business prepare, publish and distribute by making copies available at the office
of the Town Clerk and at Cary Memorial Library, and by mailing or otherwise
distributing to each Town meeting member, a report of its findings, setting forth a
list of all such capital expenditures together with the Committee's
recommendations as to the projects that should be undertaken within the five-
year period, the approximate schedule for the funding of each recommended
project to the extent practical, and its recommendations on policies with either a
direct or indirect effect on capital matters. This publication may be combined with
and distributed at the same time as the Appropriation Committee report.
From the Code of the Town of Lexington (§29-14):
The term capital expenditures shall mean any and all expense of a nonrecurring
nature not construed as an ordinary operating expense, the benefit of which will
accrue to the Town over an extended period of time.
Definition of Capital Projects (Select Board's Recommended Budget & Financing Plan,
Page XI -1):
A capital project is defined as a major, non-recurring expenditure that generally
meets the following criteria:
• Massachusetts General Law permits the Town to issue bonds to finance the
expenditure;
• The expenditure is $25,000 or more;
• The expenditure will have a useful life of 10 years or more for buildings or
building components and 5 years for vehicles and equipment; and
• Planning, engineering, or design services may be considered capital when
such services are integral to a construction, renewal or replacement project
that meets the criteria for a capital expenditure.
From the Code of the Town of Lexington (§29-26):
The Capital Expenditures Committee shall state whether it endorses each
recommendation of the Community Preservation Committee.
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
How to Read This Report
The balance of our report is divided into four sections:
• An overview of Capital projects in Lexington,
• Presentation of a five-year Capital plan,
• For each department and program, an overview of its purpose, spending history,
any general Capital plan, references to any funding request in the FY2027
budget, and
• This year's Capital -related Warrant Articles.
"2026 ATM Town Warrant" refers to the respective portions of the Town of Lexington
Town Warrant for that March 30, 2026, Town Meeting. "Brown Book" refers to the "Town
of Lexington Fiscal Year 2027 Recommended Budget & Financing Plan." Where our
narrative includes a "See Article —
ecommendations". In that section you will find that:
• We have quoted the Town's documentation for each of the Articles on which we
are reporting. If we believe that quote has both adequately described the
proposed work and satisfactorily made the case for the Town's need, we will not
reiterate either of those matters in this report. However, additional narrative is
included where we feel it would be helpful for better understanding an Article or
subArticle. (If in italics, it is what we believe should be included when our
Committee is asked for its spoken position.)
• Our Committee's recommendations and how we voted are shown only in the
boxed header for each Article and, if applicable, in any sub -elements unless there
are further comments on our position However, in any case where we are not
unanimous in a recommendation to Town Meeting there will be comments,
including from those opposed to the recommendation or both sides if a tie vote.
Our oral report on the Town Meeting floor will highlight elements of our written report
and present any new information not available as of this writing. When we report on a
Capital article on the Town Meeting floor during the deliberations, a committee member
will provide this Committee's recommendation and, if applicable, comments related to
that recommendation.
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
Capital Budget
Lexington allocates resources to Capital projects by considering them in three
categories:
• Capital Projects (by definition those that can be debt-financed, are greater than
$25,000, and have a useful life of at least 5 years for vehicles and equipment,
and 10 years for buildings or building components);
• Enterprise & Revolving Funds projects (greater than $25,000); and
• Community Preservation Fund (CPF) projects (any dollar amount).
The Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC):
• Assesses Capital needs brought forward by each department (municipal and
schools) as well as the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) through the
annual budgeting process;
• Works with those departments and the CPC to identify likely Capital needs for the
next five years;
• Independently considers public facilities, infrastructure systems, and prospective
longer-term needs, as well as issues and facilities not being addressed within any
department; and
• Through this report and in presentations, advises Town Meeting about necessary
and prudent investments to maintain, improve, and create facilities required to
serve Lexington citizens safely, effectively, and efficiently. During the year,
Committee members also work with, advise, and consult staff members in
various departments and with other public committees—notably in budget
summits with the Select Board (SB), the Appropriation Committee, and the
School Committee—in an effort to shape a responsible Capital budget for
Lexington.
Please note these important caveats:
• All cost figures are estimates and may not reflect the cost in then -year dollars.
The degree of accuracy varies by project. Estimates that are several years into
the future are the most uncertain. They are subject to refinement as projects are
designed, bid, and built. Even relatively near-term work is subject to cost
uncertainties until projects are bid and contracts signed because material, labor,
and contract -management costs are often highly variable even over a period of
just a few months.
• The scope of future projects is also often highly uncertain. Accordingly, project
budgets are subject to significant revision as the work is defined through the
political and budgeting processes.
• Dates for appropriations and taxpayer impact of financing projects, unless
otherwise specified, are given in fiscal years, beginning July 1.
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
Capital Projects
Capital projects require careful analysis, budgeting, and broad support. Generally,
recommended large Capital projects are funded through borrowing, consistent with their
expected life and annual budgeting for operating needs.
Borrowing incurs debt service in later fiscal years, and this is funded in one of three
ways:
1. Through the operating budget, which may `crowd' the budget for other Town
needs.
2. Through the use of a Proposition 2'/2 debt -exclusion, which has the additional
benefit of reinforcing broad community support.
3. Through the CPA, in which case, neither a debt -exclusion vote nor operating
budget funds are required. However, sometimes there may be separate funding
for companion elements—usually essential—of the project that are not eligible for
use of the CPF.
This Committee applauds the Town departments' emphasis on continual infrastructure
maintenance and upgrades. We continue to work closely with the stewards of our
assets to prioritize, plan, and project the Capital work for a period of five years or more.
The Projects Agenda
The following are big-ticket items being considered in Lexington. No priority ranking is
intended; the rest of this listing after the School Buildings is simply alphabetical.
• School Buildings—Expansion, Renovation & Reconstruction (See Articles 15,
16(c), 16(e)).
• Community (Affordable) Housing—Development and Acquisition (See Articles
10(c, d) and 25)
• Conservation/Open Space Land—Acquisition and Enhancement (No action at
this Town Meeting.
• Hartwell Avenue Transportation Management Overlay District (No action at
this Town Meeting.)
• Recreation Facilities—A continuing need (See Articles 10(e, f), and 11.)
• Roads—A continuing need (See Article 12(h, m).)
• Sidewalks—A continuing need. (See Articles 12(f, k, 1))
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
• Stone Building (previously the East Lexington Library), 735 Massachusetts
Avenue—Determine use and renovation. This structure has been stabilized but is
not code compliant nor suitable for use without further renovation or build -out.
Design funds to explore possible renovation and future uses (including a
Lyceum) were voted at 2023 Annual Town Meeting, resulting in an estimated
$6,110,000 renovation cost (at that time) assuming phased construction. (No
action at this Town Meeting.)
• Sustainability—This Program continues with EV Charger installations at the
Community Center and the Police Station (see Article 7).
• Transportation Mitigation—This is a continuing need. (See Articles 12(a, b))
(Actions taken are often an element of road -related projects, rather than being
solely to achieve specific mitigation.)
The SB, School Committee (SC), CPC, and Permanent Building Committee (PBC)
continue to evaluate, refine, prioritize, and schedule these projects for the next several
years. Realistic cost proposals are typically incorporated in the 5 -year projections.
The Community Preservation Act
In March 2006, Lexington voted to adopt the CPA—an opt -in, State -funding mechanism
for selected purposes. CPA funds may be used for capital projects proposed by
municipal and non -municipal entities within four categories: Community Housing,
Historic Resources, Open Space, and Recreational Use. These monies help accomplish
some of our Town's traditional needs, but only those that fall within the limited purposes
of the Act. (See Article 10).
As of late 2025, 201 municipalities have adopted the CPA, compared to 200 last year.
Each community opting into the Act voluntarily adds a surcharge from 1% to 3% to its
municipal taxes to fund its CPF. Lexington has selected the maximum 3%. Under the
statute, each CPA municipality is then eligible for annual supplemental State funding,
taken from fees charged by the Registries of Deeds, based on its collected surtax level.
For those communities that have adopted the maximum 3% surcharge, a second- and a
third -round distribution is also calculated to determine their final supplemental funding.
The original State supplement "matched" the total of each municipality's surcharge
receipts, but as more municipalities opted into the program, the supplement level has
diminished.
The Lexington CPF receives the annual receipts from our local surcharge, the State
supplement, and interest on the balance in our Town's CPF. Under the statute, 10% of
the total received each year is allocated to each of the following categories: Community
Housing, Historic Resources, and Open Space. The remaining 70% of this income may
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
be spent for any of these categories or for Recreation. Funds may be accrued from year
to year and are available for debt service on previously approved projects.
A CPA -funded project can only be brought to Town Meeting for action through
recommendation by the CPC whose membership is comprised of nine members. Three
are appointed by the Select Board as at -large members, and six are appointed by
Planning Board, Conservation Commission, Historical Commission, Housing
Partnership, Housing Authority, and Recreation Committee. Town Meeting can only
approve, reduce the funding, or disapprove a project; it cannot change the purpose.
Town Counsel has provided an opinion that Town Meeting can change the funding
mechanism for a given project (cash or debt). This Committee gives our
recommendation on each of the projects put before Town Meeting. See the report of the
CPC for information on how Lexington has spent from the CPF since 2007.
The projected available CPF cash is not a limitation on what the CPC can recommend
to Town Meeting for spending approval. The CPA can include debt financing, though
only after careful consideration and as a last resort. Financing costs are paid over the
term of the borrowing using the CPF. This Committee has always stated that cash
funding should be the first preference. However, (1) Any such debt should be for as
short a term as practical, with payment as front-end loaded as practical, after
considering the funding projected for the CPF (not including any State supplemental
funds) over at least the next 10 years; and (2) Such debt should be approved only after
consideration of potential future projects which would require funds beyond those
allocated to the three, mandatory reserves for Open Space, Historic Resources, and
Community (Affordable) Housing. An example of the CPC's preference for cash
financing in 2027 ATM Article 10b. Instead of issuing $2m debt for the Monroe Center of
the Arts accessibility renovations ( 2023 ATM Article 10(b)), the CPC has recommended
allocating cash from this year's budget.
The debt service is an obligation borne by the CPF throughout the term of those
instruments—whether short-term financing (i.e., notes, such as a Bond Anticipation Note
[BAN]) and/or long-term financing (i.e., a bond). It is the Town's practice that each year's
debt service will be paid from any funds remaining in the reserve category under which
that project was eligible—whether or not initially financed from that reserve—before use
of other available funds. In subsequent years, the CPC recommends to Town Meeting
those obligatory debt -service -payment appropriations. The CPC is currently debt free
and therefore not requesting funds for projected debt service in FY2027.
See the Table following for the lifetime history of supplemental distributions to Lexington,
including the projection for FY2027.
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
Community Preservation Act Funding to Lexington
Fiscal Year
3% Surcharge
Amount
State
Supplemental
Percentage
State
Supplemental
Amount
Total CPA
Funding
FY 2008 (Actual)
$
2,556,362
100.00 %
$
2,556,362
$
5,112,724
FY 2009 (Actual)
$
2,777,882
69.40 %$
1,927,708
$
4,705,590
FY 2010 (Actual)
$
2,931,678
36.20 %$
1,060,391
$
3,992,068
FY 2011 (Actual)
$
3,042,587
28.20 %$
858,729
$
3,901,316
FY 2012 (Actual)
$
3,206,117
27.60 %$
885,463
$
4,091,580
FY 2013 (Actual)
$
3,344,371
27.80 %$
929,507
$
4,273,878
FY 2014 (Actual)
$
3,572,460
54.10 %$
1,932,347
$
5,504,807
FY 2015 (Actual)
$
3,777,676
32.60 %$
1,230,116
$
5,007,792
FY 2016 (Actual)
$
4,012,883
30.70 %$
1,229,774
$
5,242,657
FY 2017 (Actual)
$
4,217,305
21.30 %$
897,243
$
5,114,548
FY 2018 (Actual)
$
4,442,893
17.80 %$
789,905
$
5,232,798
FY 2019 (Actual)
$
4,659,786
19.80 %$
922,256
$
5,582,042
FY 2020 (Actual)
$
4,911,223
24.80 %$
1,219,950
$
6,131,173
FY 2021 (Actual)
$
5,214,556
29.70 %$
1,549,955
$
6,764,511
FY 2022 (Actual)
$
5,492,511
45.50 %
$
2,500,261
$
7,992,772
FY 2023 (Actual)
$
5,815,118
40.00 %$
2,323,956
$
8,139,074
FY 2024 (Actual)
$
6,216,085
21.80 %$
1,354,935
$
7,571,020
FY 2025 (Actual)
$
6,649,355
18.73%$
1,234,313
$
7,883,668
FY2026 (Budget)
$
7,320,000
17.50 %
$
1,215,638
$
8,535,638
Total Actual:
$
84,160, 848
31.63%$
26, 618, 809
$
110, 779, 656
FY2027
$
7,539,130
15.00 %$
1,130,870
$
8,670,000
Totals
including
projected:
$
91,699,978
32.80%1
$27,749,679
$119,449,656
The Town, the CPC, and this Committee are mindful of the additional taxes which the
CPA imposes on our community at a time when our tax burden is projected to rise to
pay for essential capital projects like the new Lexington High School. To lessen the
impact on Lexington households, particularly those with smaller homes, the Town has
adopted a provision in the CPA law that exempts the first $100,000 of home value from
the CPA surcharge.
By choosing the maximum 3% surcharge, Lexington has received the maximum
supplement allowed paid from the State for every year since 2007. As of FY2026, the
Town has received $26.6 million in supplemental funding and projects an additional $1.1
million for FY2027. Given the fiscal prudence of preparing for anticipated capital needs
in these areas and the State supplement, this Committee continues to believe that
Lexington should maintain its CPA participation at the 3% level, and that not to do so
would be "penny wise and pound foolish."
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
Enterprise Fund Projects
The Town operates three enterprise funds (EFs) for revenue-producing activities funded
outside the tax levy by user fees: water distribution, wastewater distribution (sanitary
sewers), and certain Recreation and Community Programs (R&CP) services, such as
the golf course, swimming pools, and tennis courts. The costs of these activities are
normally funded out of their respective enterprise funds. Unlike property -tax revenues,
EF fees are not subject to a limit under Proposition 2'/2. Recreational playground
restoration and equipment, in contrast, are not fee generating and Capital investment for
such equipment is therefore normally funded as part of the small -ticket program of the
General Fund (GF)—sourced by the tax levy. The 2012 amendments to the CPA
expanded the range of recreation projects that are eligible for funding under that Act;
therefore, many recreational projects have since been submitted to our CPC with
requests for use of the CPF as the fund source. That continues this year; 2 of the
recreation projects coming before this ATM will request full or partial funding from the
CPF rather than from the EF or GF.
This Town Meeting will consider requests from the Departments that manage the R&CP,
Water, and Wastewater EFs. (See Articles 11, 13 and 14.)
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Five -Year Capital Plan
The table and its footnotes on pages 17-21 summarize this Committee's Five -Year
Capital Plan. This plan reflects the expected FY2027 appropriations at the 2026 ATM,
and the FY2028-FY2031 requests that this Committee recommends. We started with the
amounts and timing shown in the Brown Book, Page XI -5 for FY2027, and XI -21 for
FY2028-FY2031. Those requests have also been updated based on any information we
received after it was published (including for FY2027). Additionally, if we feel that the
project is multi -phase and either Design & Engineering or construction monies are
anticipated, we have made additional entries or changes, even though no formal position
has been taken by the Town. In that vein, there are important caveats to our table:
• Footnotes explain when this Committee's position differs from the Town's position.
• Excluding the many hundreds of millions of dollars of to -be -determined (TBD)
entries, the total in this Committee's Plan for FY2028-FY2031 is over $500
million. The TBD entries include future construction phases, undetermined project
elements, or entire major facility projects. If any project includes any TBD in any
year, whether standalone or augmenting a dollar amount, none of the project's
funding is included in our total estimated amounts.
• For several years the Town has been building the Capital Stabilization Fund (CSF)
so that it can be used to mitigate the debt service tax impact of LHS. The CSF
can, and will, have a significant positive impact on LHS taxpayer burden, but by
policy, it will only be used for LHS debt.
15
CEC Five -Year Capital Plan (FY2027-FY2031)
FY2027
FY2028
FY2029
FY2030
FY2031
Total Excluding
Program or Project Name
Budget
Plan
Plan
Plan
Plan
TBDs
Innovation & Technology Programs
Application Implementation
$ 115,000
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
Network Core Equipment
Replacement
$ —
$ 160,000
$ 100,000
$ 700,000
$ 700,000
$ 1,660,000
Municipal Technology Improvement
Plan
$ 145,000
$ 100,000
$ 100,000
$ 365,000
$ 100,000
$ 810,000
Network Redundancy & Improvement
Plan
$ —
$ 200,000
$ 200,000
$ 150,000
$ 150,000
$ 700,000
Phone Systems & Unified
Communications
$ —
$ 80,000
$ 80,000
$ 60,000
$ 60,000
$ 280,000
Network Technology and
Improvements
$ 120,000
$ 65,000
$ 86,000
$ 86,000
$ 165,000
$ 522,000
Subtotal
$ 380,0001$
605,0001$
566,000
$ 1,361,000
$ 1,175,000
$ 3,972,000
15
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
Land Use, Housing and
Development
Transportation Mitigation
$ 80,000
$ 80,000
$ 80,000
$ 100,000
$ 100,000
$ 440,000
Bike -Ped Implementation: MMBW to
LHS
$ 180,000
$ 330,000
$ 1,040,000
$ -
$ -
$ 1,550,000
Town -Wide Pedestrian & Bike Plan
Implementation
$ 100,000
$ 1,100,000
TBDj
TBDI
TBD
$ 1,200,000
Subtotal
$ 360,000
$ 1,510,000
Fs -1,120,000
$ 100,0001$
100,0001$
3,190,000
Public Facilities Programs
Public Facilities Bid Documents
$ 125,000
$ 125,000
$ 150,000
$ 150,000
$ 150,000
$ 700,000
Public Facilities Interior Finishes
$ 486,720
$ 506,189
$ 526,437
$ 547,494
$ 569,394
$ 2,636,234
School Paving and Sidewalks
$ 225,000
$ 250,000
$ 250,000
$ 250,000
$ 250,000
$ 1,225,000
Mech/Electrical/Plumbing
Replacements
$ 4,565,000
$ -
$ 3,000,000
$ -
$ 3,932,500
$ 11,497,500
Municipal Building Envelopes &
Assoc. Systems
$ -
$ 2,670,000
$ -
$ 3,300,000
$ -
$ 5,970,000
School Building Envelopes &Assoc.
Systems
$ -$
-$
-$
-$
-$
-
Subtotal
$ 5,401,720
$ 3,551,189
$ 3,926,437
$ 4,247,494
$ 4,901,894
$ 22,028,734
Public Works Programs
Equipment Replacement
$ 1,700,000
$ 1,480,000
$ 1,835,000
$ 1,750,000
$ 1,905,000
$ 8,670,000
Sidewalk Improvements
$ 820,000
$ 820,000
$ 820,000
$ 820,000
$ 820,000
$ 4,100,000
Townwide Signalization Improvements
$ -
$ 55,000
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ 55,000
Stormwater Management
$ 2,665,000
$ 2,718,300
$ 2,772,666
$ 2,828,119
$ 2,884,681
$ 13,868,766
Street Improvements
$ 2,746,777
$ 2,767,247
$ 2,788,230
$ 2,809,737
$ 2,931,781
$ 14,043,772
Hydrant Replacement Program
$ 75,000
$ 75,000
$ 75,000
$ 75,000
$ 75,000
$ 375,000
Subtotal
$ 8,006,777
$ 7,915,547
$ 8,290,896
$ 8,282,856
$ 8,616,462
$ 41,112,538
School Programs
LIPS Technology Program
$ 1,425,657
Is 1,465,685
Is 1,465,906
Is 1,441,608
Is 1,409,003
Is 7,207,859
Subtotal
$ 1,425,657
$ 1,465,685
$ 1,465,906
$ 1,441,608
$ 1,409,003
$ 7,207,859
Ongoing Capital Programs -
Enterprise
Hydrant Replacement Program
$ 75,000
$ 75,000
$ 75,000
$ 75,000
$ 75,000
$ 375,000
Pump Station Upgrades
$ -
$ 100,000
$ 520,000
TBD
TBD
$ 620,000
Pump Station Building Improvements
$ 200,000
$ 150,000
$ 150,000
$ -
$ -
$ 500,000
Sanitary Sewer System Investigation/
Improvements
$ 1,104,080
$ 1,126,161
$ 1,148,684
$ 1,171,658
$ 1,195,091
$ 5,745,674
Water Distribution System
Improvements
$ 2,381,639
$ 2,429,271
$ 2,477,857
$ 2,527,414
$ 2,578,044
$ 12,394,225
WaterTower(s) Replacement
$ -
$ 2,600,000
$ -
$ 1,300,000
$ -
$ 3,900,000
Subtotal
$ 3,760,719
$ 6,480,432
$ 4,371,541
$ 5,074,072
$ 3,848,135
$ 23,534,899
16
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
Recreation & Community Programs
Center Recreation Complex - Athletic
Field Resurfacing
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ 835,000
$ 835,000
Lincoln Park Parking Lot
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ 4,308,610
$ 4,308,610
Pine Meadows Master Plan
$ -
$ 75,000
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ 75,000
Pine Meadows Improvements
$ 130,000
$ 90,000
$ 105,000
$ 120,000
$ -
$ 445,000
Pine Meadows Equipment
$ 60,000
$ -
$ 80,000
$ 40,000
$ -
$ 180,000
Subtotal
$ 190,000
$ 165,000
$ 185,000
$ 160,000
$ 5,143,610
$ 5,843,610
Fire
Turnout Gear Replacement
$ -
$ 444,063
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ 444,063
Ladder Truck
$ 2,500,000
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ 2,500,000
Off Road Fire Engine
$ -
$ -
$ 460,000
$ -
$ -
$ 460,000
Ambulance Replacement
$ -,$
600,000,$
-,$
600,000,$
-,$
1,200,000
Subtotal
$ 2,500,000
$ 1,044,063
$ 460,0001$
600,0001$
-
$ 4,604,063
Public Facilities Projects
LHS Emergency Equipment Funds
$ 400,000
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ 400,000
East Lexington Fire Station
$ -
$ -
$ 1,000,000
$ 14,470,000
$ -
$ 15,470,000
Clarke - Electrification, Roof,
Windows, Flooring, etc.
$ -
$ -
$ 1,500,000
$ 2,000,000
$ 37,600,000
$ 41,100,000
Cary Library Upper Floors HVAC
Renovation
$ -
$ -
$ 200,000
$ 1,800,000
$ 21,000,000
$ 23,000,000
Subtotal
$ 400,000
$ -
$ 2,700,000
$ 18,270,000
$ 58,600,000
$ 79,970,000
Public Works Projects
DPW Building Improvements - Vehicle
Floor Repairs
$ 220,000
$ 550,000
$ 550,000
$ 220,000
$ 550,000
$ 2,090,000
New Sidewalk Installation - Burlington
& North
$ 250,000
$ 200,000
$ -
$ 5,200,000
$ -
$ 5,650,000
Adams Street Intersections
Improvements (@East; @Hancock)
$ 100,000
$ -
$ 5,500,000
$ -
$ -
$ 5,600,000
Hartwell Training Facility Paving
$ 67,458
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ 67,458
Bedford St. and Hartwell Ave. Long -
Range Transportation Improvements
$ -
$ 1,950,000
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ 1,950,000
Cemetery Columbarium Construction
$ -
$ 450,000
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ 450,000
Public Parking Lot Improvement
Design
$ -
$ 528,000
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ 528,000
Hartwell Ave. Compost Site
Improvements
$ -
$ 250,000
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ 250,000
Refuse & Recycling Automated
Collection Carts
$ 1,204,000
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ 1,204,000
Subtotal
$ 1,841,458
$ 3,928,000
$ 6,050,000
$ 5,420,000
$ 550,000
$ 17,789,458
Recreation & Community Projects
Center Recreation Complex - Track &
Athletic Field Resurfacing
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ 835,000
$ 835,000
Subtotal
$ -
$ -1$
-1$
-1$
835,000
$ 835,000
17
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
CPA Projects and Programs
Non -Governmental Projects
Munroe Center for the Arts
$ 2,000,000
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
$ 2,000,000
Affordable Housing Trust (AHT)
Funding
$ 3,200,000
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
$ 3,200,000
LexHAB Restoration/Preservation &
Decarbonization
$ 395,355
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
$ 395,355
LexHAB Other2
$ —
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
$ —
Lexington Housing Authority Projects2
Is —
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
$ —
Subtotal
$ 5,595,355
$ —
$ —
$ —
$ —
$ 5,595,355
2) Future LexHAB and LHA requests are likely to be the AHT rather than other sources
Historical
Stone Building Renovation3
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
$ —
Subtotal$
—$
—$
—$
—$
—$
—
3) Town building, managed by DPF. Current estimate to renovate is approximately $6,110,000 assuming phased construction
Conservation
Wright Farm Barn Preservation and
Rehabilitation (Step 3)
$ —
$ —
TBD
$ —
TBD
$ —
Cotton Farm/Community Center
Connector
$ —
$ —
TBD
$ —
$ —
$ —
Land Acquisition
$ —
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
$ —
Simond's Brook Conservation Area
Trail Design & Engineering
$ —
$ —
$ —
$ —
$ —
Subtotal$
—$
As
As
As
As
—
4) Added by this Committee as a TBD in the outyears for possible future conservation land acquisitions
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
Recreation & Community Programs
Park Improvements -Athletic Fields
$ 2,630,000
$ 250,000
$ 350,000
$ 350,000
$ 1,300,000
$ 4,880,000
Park and Playground Improvements
$ —
$ 1,050,000
$ —
$ 350,000
$ —
$ 1,400,000
Park Improvements - Hard Court
Surfaces
$ —
$ 380,000
$ 2,025,000
$ —
$ —
$ 2,405,000
Center Recreation Complex - Track &
Athletic Field Resurfacing
$ —
$ —
$ —
$ 755,000
$ 755,000
Lincoln Park Boardwalks
$ —
$ 300,000
$ —
$ —
$ —
$ 300,000
Aquatics Improvements
$ —
$ 75,000
$ 125,000
$ 100,000
$ —
$ 300,000
Park Improvements - ADA
Enhancements
$ —
$ —
$ —
$ 425,000
$ —
$ 425,000
Subtotal
$ 2,630,000
$ 2,055,000
$ 2,500,000
$ 1,225,000
$ 2,055,000
$ 10,465,000
Town Manager
Sustainable Projects
$ 463,000
$ 50,000
$ 50,000
$ 50,000
$ 50,000
$ 663,000
Subtotal
$ 463,000
$ 50,0001$
50,0001$
50,0001$
50,0001$
663,000
Town Clerk
Archives & Records Management
$ 20,000
$ 20,0001$
20,0001$
20,0001$
20,0001$
100,000
Subtotal
$ 20,000
$ 20,0001$
20,0001$
20,0001$
20,0001$
100,000
Total (all pages) $ 32,974,686 $ 28,789,916 $ 31,705,780 $ 46,252,030 $ 87,304,104 $ 226,911,516
Changes to items from last year's 5 -year plan
The Town's 5 -Year Capital Plan is our, and the Town's, best estimate for the expected
capital projects over the next five years. The goal is to have a stable plan. However,
every year there are some changes. Last year's 5 -year Capital Plan had a list of items
that have undergone significant changes in timing, cost, and/or scope that we call your
attention to. Due to the year -by -year nature of requests that come to the CPC, while we
do attempt to include an estimate of a 5 -year plan for CPA funds that plan is fluid and not
included here.
DPF
• New:
• School Building Envelopes and Associated Systems: FY2028 and FY2029
$1,975,000 each year
• LHS Emergency Equipment funds, $400,000
• Moved out one year:
• Hartwell Ave Compost site improvements
• Cemetery Columbarium
• Public Parking Lot Improvement Design
• Bedford St and Hartwell Ave Long Range Transportation Improvements
19
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
Clark HVAC Replacement and Electrification, Roof, Windows, Flooring,
Security, plus change in funding amount: $38,500,000 to $41,100,000
Moved out two years:
• East Lexington Fire Station
• Cary Memorial Library upper floors HVAC
Change in funding request:
• DPW Building Improvements FY27-FY30 ($200,000, $200,000, $200,000,
$200,000) to ($220,000,$550,000, $550,000, $220,000), or totals of
$800,000 to $1,540,000
• Automated (trash & recycling) Collection Carts, New in FY2027 $1,204,000
DPW
Moved out one year:
• Pump Station Building Improvements
• Water Tank Rehabilitation
• Hartwell Ave. Compost Site Improvements
• Cemetery Columbarium Construction
• Public Parking Lot Improvement and Design
• Bedford/Hartwell TIP
Change in funding request:
• Stormwater Management FY28-FY30 $2,332,500, $2,292,500, $2,292,500
increased to $2,718,300, $2,772,666, $2,828,119, or 3 -year total of
$6,917,500 increased to $8,319,085, an increase of $1,401,585
• New Sidewalk Installation - Burlington & North reduced in FY2027 to a
study
IT
• Moved out one year:
• Network Core Equipment Replacement
• Municipal Technology Improvement Program
Recreation
• Moved one year earlier:
Pickleball moved from FY30 to FY29
• Moved out one year:
Park and Playground Improvements, reduced from $1,465,000 to
$1,050,000
• Change in funding request:
Aquatics improvements FY29-FY30 changed from $30,000 and $50,000 to
$175,000 and $150,000
Fire
• New:
Turnout Gear $444,063 in FY28
Recreation and Community Programs
Moved out three years:
Lincoln Parking lot design moved from FY2028 to FY2031
NX
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
Out -Year Projects
The primary charge of the Capital Expenditures Committee is to present and make
recommendations regarding the Town's 5 -year Capital Plan. However, while often not
well defined, there are several big ticket items beyond the current 5 -year time horizon
that should be kept on our radar screen.
The following out -year projects, beyond FY2031, are listed below. The funding amounts
are notional, provided by DPF professional assessment, and are in current year dollars.
The associated years and order are approximate - the eventual dates will vary
depending on needs and funding availability. Because exact years are not known, the
projects are grouped, and the order reflects current best estimate of timing. Many of
these projects are end -of -life renovations to items such as roofs and HVAC systems.
Some, like Bridge and Bowman Elementary Schools, will depend on decisions such as
renovate vs replace.
2032-2034
• $20M, Town office building
• $30M, Fiske and Harrington Elementary Schools
• $80M -$150M, Bridge and Bowman Elementary Schools (renovate/replacement)
• $20M, Public Service Building
2038-2042
• $50M, Estabrook Elementary School
• $20M, Community Center
• $10M, Lexington Children's Center
• $20M, Hastings Elementary School
2045
• $20M, Fire Department Headquarters
These projects represent possible funding requests of approximately $270M - $340M, in
current year dollars, spread across the 15 -year period after the current 5 -year plan.
21
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
Conservation and Open Space
The Conservation Division serves three primary purposes:
• to administer and enforce State and local wetlands protection codes, as well as
the State Stormwater Management Policy
• to manage over 1,400 acres of Town -owned conservation land and monitor
conservation easements and restrictions
• to conduct outreach and education regarding the town's natural resources and
watersheds
Wright Farm. The 2020 ATM approved $69,000 in CPA funds for site design to provide
for public access and parking while protecting conservation lands. The Conservation
Commission established a Wright Farm Advisory Subcommittee to assist in the
Commission's planning and to make recommendations for program activities and
management of the property. The 2022 ATM approved $155,000 for barn stabilization.
DPF is supporting Conservation with next steps regarding stabilization activities. It is
likely that there will be out -year requests for work to make the barn suitable for year-
round programming.
Parker Meadow Universal Trail Project. Pursuant to the ADA Goal of Lexington's
Open Space and Recreation Plan, last approved in 2015, the Parker Meadow Universal
Trail project was mostly completed in 2022, using a total of $786,776 in CPA funding.
The final year of native vegetation monitoring and invasive species management was
2025.
Trail Work. The work on the following efforts has been delayed due to severe staffing
shortages over the last year, however new hires are currently being onboarded with the
expectation that the Department will be able to move forward in a more timely fashion
this Spring. The 2023 ATM approved funding of $1,211,675 for trail improvements in
Willard's Wood including the construction of a Universally Accessible trail. It is
anticipated that construction for this project will start in the 2026 construction season,
with completion in 2027. The 2023 annual town meeting appropriated $300,000 of CPA
funding for repair work on the Whipple Hill trail with completion expected summer 2026.
The 2025 ATM approved funding for a Universal Access trail connecting Cotton Farm
with the Community Center ($300,000), and another at Simonds Brook ($75,000).
(status requested). The Cotton Farm Trail existing conditions survey and conceptual trail
design planning are expected to take place in the Spring/Summer 2026 with extensive
public engagement and outreach starting in Fall 2026 to advance 25% Design and
Engineering Plans in Spring 2027. The Simonds Brook Trail existing conditions survey
and trail realignment design is expected to take place in the Spring/summer 2026 with
public outreach and engagement and final plan design early fall 2026 and trail
realignment completion by late fall 2026.
Land Acquisition. In 2021 the Town purchased conservation land located at 39
Highland Avenue with $4,560,000 in CPA funds.
22
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
Open Space and Recreation Plan Update. The 2021 ATM approved an appropriation
of $50,000 from the FY2022 CPA Administrative Budget for updating Lexington's State -
mandated Open Space and Recreation Plan which expired at the end of 2022. The
OSRP was updated and approved through May 2030.
Pedestrian and Bike Path. In FY2023 $65,000 was appropriated to develop a
Townwide Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan. The Plan compiled existing conditions data,
identified and prioritized future improvements to the streets, sidewalks, shared use
paths to more safely accommodate pedestrians, rollers and bicyclists and provide
meaningful connections to the region's active transportation network. The plan provides
a framework for the Transportation Safety Group (TSG) to address safety requests,
prioritize sidewalk requests and inform capital plan budget decisions. The FY2027
requests follow from the Plan. See Articles 12(b) and 12(c).
Conservation and Open Space 5 -Year Capital Appropriation History
(All Sources)
Lexington Community Center
Lexington Community Center (LexCC), at 39 Marrett Road, was purchased by the Town
in 2013. The LexCC incorporates functions of the previous Lexington Senior Center and
provides expanded, multi -generational services to the Town. To manage the LexCC and
the closely associated Town functions, the SB created the Recreation and Community
Programs Department. Programming began in 2015 and includes structured classes
and drop-in programs such as yoga, table tennis, and billiards. LexCC also provides
meeting and function spaces.
23
FY2022
FY2023
FY2024
FY2025
FY2026
Wright Farm
$ —
$ 155,000
$ —
$ —
$ —
Conservation Meadow
Preservation
$ —
$ 28,175
$ —
$ —
$ —
Simond's Brook
Conservation Area
Trail Design
$ —
$ —
$ —
$ —
$ 75,000
Cotton Farm
Connector
$ —
$ —
$ —
$ —
$ 300,000
Willard Woods Land
Management and Site
Plan
$ —
$ —
$ 1,211,675
$ —
$ —
Pedestrian and Bike
Path
$ —
$ 65,000
$ —
$ —
$ —
Whipple Trail Projects
$ 235,750,$
—,$
300,000,$
—
$ —
Totals
1 $ 235,7501$
248,1751$
1,511,675
$ —
Is 375,000
Lexington Community Center
Lexington Community Center (LexCC), at 39 Marrett Road, was purchased by the Town
in 2013. The LexCC incorporates functions of the previous Lexington Senior Center and
provides expanded, multi -generational services to the Town. To manage the LexCC and
the closely associated Town functions, the SB created the Recreation and Community
Programs Department. Programming began in 2015 and includes structured classes
and drop-in programs such as yoga, table tennis, and billiards. LexCC also provides
meeting and function spaces.
23
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
Since the Town has a substantial backlog of capital -intensive priories, the Recreation
Department has postponed seeking additional funding for expanding the Community
Center. The 2019 Community Needs Assessment revealed that residents still desire
spaces to conduct cultural performances as well as fitness and wellness activities, so
the Department is using online classes to compensate for the lack of physical space.
Meanwhile, accessibility was improved in the current building through replacing a
sidewalk and patio alongside the mansion side of the Community Center in full
compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. (See 2021 ATM Article 10(c).)
At present, there is no decision on space usage in the Muzzey High Condominiums that
previously housed the Town's Senior Center. Deed restrictions on that space limit it to
uses for the benefit of seniors. The Carriage House located next to the Community
Center also has deed restrictions that limit its use. DPF currently maintains both spaces
in a caretaker mode.
Fire Department
The Fire Department uses industry standards and its own experience to establish its
Capital -equipment replacement schedule. Unlike many pieces of Town equipment, fire
engines and medic trucks (rescue -ambulances) are partially custom-made and
equipped, require detailed specifications, and typically require many months between
placing the order and the delivery and acceptance.
Several years ago, the mission of this Department in the 21st century shifted beyond
traditional firefighting to emergency services, homeland security, and community
education. Our firefighters are trained for Emergency Medical Services and Advanced
Life Support. The equipment to perform these missions has changed with new
technologies for firefighting and communications, yet the basic pumper truck, ladder
truck, and rescue ambulance are still essential to the mission. (See Article 12(d)).
Lexington must continue to replace its aging equipment and retain backup capacity. The
table below includes the forecasted need for replacing major Capital vehicles in the
current Department inventory. Cost escalations continue to occur frequently and are
attributed to supply -chain cost increases passed onto the end-use manufactures.
Delivery dates continue to be pushed out significantly from our pre-COVID timeline of
one to two years as a result of supply chain issues.
Ladder trucks have a recommended replacement frequency of 20 years: 10 years in
front line service and 10 years in reserve (which doesn't account for harsh New England
conditions). Article 12(d) requests $2,500,000 to replace the Department's 2017 front
line ladder truck, which would then serve in the reserve role. Lead time is approximately
48 months from contract signing. Payment is due on delivery of the ladder truck.
24
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
Capital Equipment Replacement
The following is the current replacement inventory of the Fire Department's major
Capital equipment'—ordered by the year of the currently projected replacement funding:
Projected
Replacement
Funding
ID
Type
Make
Model Year
Purchased
Service
Date
Orig.
Proj.
Useful
Life
Orig. Cost
FY2027
L-1
Aerial
Emergency
One/Cyclone
2017
1/1/20181
20
$875,000
FY2026
E-3
Pumper
Emergency
One/Typhoon
2004
1/1/2005
20
$327,390
FY2028
M-2
Ambulance
Ford/Horton
2018
7/1/2018
9
$2,609,305
FY2029
F-1
Pumper
Chevy/Kodiak
2008
2008
20
$85,000
FY2030
M-1
Ambulance
Ford/Horton
2021
2021
9
$304,961
FY2033
E-4
Pumper
Emergency
One/Typhoon
2013
3/1/2021
20
$465,000
Includes ID series "E" (pumpers), "L" (ladder), "F" (forestry) & "M" (medic).
2 The lifespan of ambulances is based on 6 years of frontline service and 3 years as a mechanical spare.
3 The lifespan of these vehicles is based on 10 years of frontline service, and 10 years in reserve status.
4 These vehicles are based on lifetime.
5 Net cost $254,930 ($260,930 less $6,000 for trade-in 2009 ambulance).
Police Department
The Lexington Police Department, which provides public safety services through a team
of dedicated police officers, detectives, dispatchers, and support staff, is supported by
the Town's Capital Program in the areas of communication systems, computer systems,
and improvements to the facilities in which it is housed and trained.
The primary ongoing Capital project for this Department has been to provide a new
Station as the previous facility at 1575 Massachusetts Avenue was out of date in many
ways and failed to meet the needs of modern professional policing and requirements set
by the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission (MPAC). That building was
completed and entered into service in Spring 2024. The construction of solar panels and
related storage is currently ongoing.
25
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
Public Safety Departments 5 -Year Capital Appropriation History
(All Sources)
Cary Memorial Library
The Cary Memorial Library began a renovation in June 2024 of its Children's Room,
nearby Large Meeting room, and lower floor HVAC systems. For the Children's Room
this will improve accessibility, create a flexible design that accommodates diverse
programming objectives, and improve safety. The Large Meeting room will be able to
offer a wider range of programming, including cooking classes. The new HVAC systems
will be all electric and improve sustainability. The entire project was originally expected
to take twelve months, but was completed in February 2026. Town Meeting appropriated
$100,000 (2019 ATM, Article 20(h)) for the initial feasibility study for the Children's Room
renovation and $671,800 in Mechanical Systems Funding (2020 ATM, Article 160)).
Construction funds of $5.5 million was appropriated from several sources, such as $1.7
million from General Fund (2024 ATM, Article 16(e)), $2.3 million from CPA (2024 ATM
Article 10(a)) and private donations of $1.5 million. Phase 2 of the project involves
replacing the upper floor HVAC, which will cost an estimated $23 million over FY30-31.
The Stone Building (former East Lexington Library Branch) continues to be maintained
by the DPF in caretaker status under the oversight of the Library's Board of Trustees.
The Stone Building Feasibility/Reuse Committee was established in August 2020 with a
charge of "exploring constructive reuse by researching the feasibility of alternative uses
for the building." That Committee issued a report recommending the transformation of
the building into a 21st century Lyceum, after conducting research, holding
conversations with Town stakeholders and holding a public forum. The Town received
$400,000 (2023 ATM, Article 10(a)) from the CPC, and architects created a design for
the first phase renovation and an addition. The Select Board recommended the
issuance of a RFP to find tenants who would operate and invest in the construction of
the building. Therefore the project has been paused and was not included in the Brown
Book Capital Projections.
26
FY2022
FY2023
FY2024
FY2025 FY2026
Fire Trucks &Ambulances
$ —
$ 732,882
$ —
$
502,000 $1,100,000
Fire Other Specialized Vehicles
$ —
$ —
$ 65,000
$
—
Fire Self -Contained Breathing Apparatus
$ 416,545
$ —
$ —
$
—
Fire Heavy Vehicle Extraction Equipment
$ —
$ —
$ —
$
175,000
Totals
$ 416,545
$ 732,882
$ 65,000
$
677,000 $1,100,000
Cary Memorial Library
The Cary Memorial Library began a renovation in June 2024 of its Children's Room,
nearby Large Meeting room, and lower floor HVAC systems. For the Children's Room
this will improve accessibility, create a flexible design that accommodates diverse
programming objectives, and improve safety. The Large Meeting room will be able to
offer a wider range of programming, including cooking classes. The new HVAC systems
will be all electric and improve sustainability. The entire project was originally expected
to take twelve months, but was completed in February 2026. Town Meeting appropriated
$100,000 (2019 ATM, Article 20(h)) for the initial feasibility study for the Children's Room
renovation and $671,800 in Mechanical Systems Funding (2020 ATM, Article 160)).
Construction funds of $5.5 million was appropriated from several sources, such as $1.7
million from General Fund (2024 ATM, Article 16(e)), $2.3 million from CPA (2024 ATM
Article 10(a)) and private donations of $1.5 million. Phase 2 of the project involves
replacing the upper floor HVAC, which will cost an estimated $23 million over FY30-31.
The Stone Building (former East Lexington Library Branch) continues to be maintained
by the DPF in caretaker status under the oversight of the Library's Board of Trustees.
The Stone Building Feasibility/Reuse Committee was established in August 2020 with a
charge of "exploring constructive reuse by researching the feasibility of alternative uses
for the building." That Committee issued a report recommending the transformation of
the building into a 21st century Lyceum, after conducting research, holding
conversations with Town stakeholders and holding a public forum. The Town received
$400,000 (2023 ATM, Article 10(a)) from the CPC, and architects created a design for
the first phase renovation and an addition. The Select Board recommended the
issuance of a RFP to find tenants who would operate and invest in the construction of
the building. Therefore the project has been paused and was not included in the Brown
Book Capital Projections.
26
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
Library 5 -Year Capital Appropriation History (All Sources)
Public Works
The Department of Public Works (DPW) is responsible for design, bidding, construction,
and project management related to Town infrastructure, including buildings assigned to
the Department of Public Facilities (DPF). Routine maintenance and other operational
activities are not capital -related and are not addressed by this Committee.
The DPW is organized around seven divisions that are responsible for: Administration,
Engineering, Highway, Public Grounds, Environmental Services, Water, and Sewer. The
Environmental Services division manages solid waste, recyclables, yard waste from
Lexington and private contractors, and hazardous products from Lexington and eight
neighboring communities.
Major components of DPW's FY2027-FY2031 capital projects include:
• Road, sidewalk, and signalization improvements
• Water distribution, sanitary sewer, and pump -station upgrades
• Hydrant replacements
• Parking lot improvements
• Town water towers rehabilitation
• Stormwater Management improvements
• Hartwell Ave. Long -Range Transportation Improvement Planning
• Trucks and heavy equipment necessary to accomplish the DPW mission
A 5 -year history of DPW capital appropriations appears at the end of this section. For
equipment replacement see Article 12(e). For improvements to various DPW buildings
see Article 120).
DPW's capital needs—except when funded in whole or in part by the Town's Community
Preservation Fund, Revolving Fund, or Enterprise Funds—must be funded by cash or
financed through the general tax levy and/or voter -approved debt exclusions. Almost all
construction projects for the sanitary -sewer system and for the water -distribution system
are funded by Water- and Sewer -rate payers through the Enterprise Funds. Large
trucks and heavy equipment used in support of the sanitary -sewer and water -distribution
systems are also funded, either in whole or in part, by Enterprise Funds.
27
FY2022
FY2023
FY2024
FY2025
F 202
Children's Room
Renovation
$ —
$ —
$ —
$ 4,000,000
$ —
Public Works
The Department of Public Works (DPW) is responsible for design, bidding, construction,
and project management related to Town infrastructure, including buildings assigned to
the Department of Public Facilities (DPF). Routine maintenance and other operational
activities are not capital -related and are not addressed by this Committee.
The DPW is organized around seven divisions that are responsible for: Administration,
Engineering, Highway, Public Grounds, Environmental Services, Water, and Sewer. The
Environmental Services division manages solid waste, recyclables, yard waste from
Lexington and private contractors, and hazardous products from Lexington and eight
neighboring communities.
Major components of DPW's FY2027-FY2031 capital projects include:
• Road, sidewalk, and signalization improvements
• Water distribution, sanitary sewer, and pump -station upgrades
• Hydrant replacements
• Parking lot improvements
• Town water towers rehabilitation
• Stormwater Management improvements
• Hartwell Ave. Long -Range Transportation Improvement Planning
• Trucks and heavy equipment necessary to accomplish the DPW mission
A 5 -year history of DPW capital appropriations appears at the end of this section. For
equipment replacement see Article 12(e). For improvements to various DPW buildings
see Article 120).
DPW's capital needs—except when funded in whole or in part by the Town's Community
Preservation Fund, Revolving Fund, or Enterprise Funds—must be funded by cash or
financed through the general tax levy and/or voter -approved debt exclusions. Almost all
construction projects for the sanitary -sewer system and for the water -distribution system
are funded by Water- and Sewer -rate payers through the Enterprise Funds. Large
trucks and heavy equipment used in support of the sanitary -sewer and water -distribution
systems are also funded, either in whole or in part, by Enterprise Funds.
27
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
Engineering
Engineering work for all DPW projects is either done in-house or contracted through
public procurement to outside consulting or design firms. In addition to supporting
ongoing DPW work, Engineering is a major participant in DPW's future projects.
Roads
Lexington has almost 200 miles of roads, which include Town, State, and unaccepted
roads. This total consists of 132 miles of Town -accepted roadways (TAR), 16 miles of
unaccepted roadways, 19 miles of private roadways, and 42 miles of State highway.
(Source: Beta FY2025 Pavement Management Summary). The DPW maintains the
TAR; the remainder are maintained by the private owners or the State. The DPW also
maintains the Town's portion (5.3 miles) of the 10 -mile Minuteman Commuter Bikeway
("Bikeway"), which opened in 1993.
The Town uses a software system that uses a measure called the Road Surface Rating
(RSR) to assess road condition, and a contractor (BETA Group) provides annual RSR
updates. The goal is to maintain a RSR at least in the mid -80s. Inspections in 2024
showed an RSR of 89.94, which is quite strong. A FY2022 analysis recommended that
the Town spend approximately $2.5 million annually to maintain the current road
network's RSR, or more to increase it. The Town has been maintaining or exceeding
such recommendations in an effort to steadily improve the conditions of the roadways.
A list of planned street work in the 2025-6 construction period will be posted when
available on the Town's Engineering website at: https://www.lexingtonma.gov/2008/
Current -Engineering -Construction -Project
Funding for the Pavement Management Program is provided by a combination of Town
Funds (typically 72%±) and State Chapter 90 funds. See Article 12(h) for the FY2027
funding request.
Sidewalks
As of 2020, the Town had approximately 80 miles of sidewalks and 1,050 pedestrian
curb ramps (source: BETA Sidewalk and Curb Ramp Assessment report, September
2020). We have since added approximately 7 miles of new sidewalks.
The Town has been working with the BETA group since 2018 to develop and implement
a sidewalk and ramp survey methodology that will provide detailed and continuous data.
Inspections were made on one third of the Town/s roadways each year since 2018, and
in September 2020, a new Sidewalk and Curb Ramp Assessment report was released
covering all three phases.
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
The BETA methodology uses Geographic Information System mapping tools and, in the
case of sidewalks, high-resolution cameras and lasers, to record the detailed conditions
(including measurements of sidewalk roughness), materials, and features of sidewalks
and curb ramps across Town.
As of 2022, approximately 44 miles of sidewalk require either no repairs at all, or minor
repairs. Another 25 miles require repairs to between 10% and 25% of the segments
surveyed, and the remaining 16 miles have at least some sidewalk segments in poor
condition. 794 of the 1163 curb ramps inventoried were found to require minor or no
repairs, 232 were in fair condition, and 137 were in poor condition. In addition, 557 of
the ramps are not yet ADA compliant. The Department has analyzed these
measurements and determined that they are equivalent to a 68.5 SCI (Sidewalk
Condition Index) score. While a new assessment is underway, DPW believes the Town's
investment in sidewalk repairs has been sufficient to slowly bring up the SCI.
The Transportation Safety Group (TSG), a Town Manager -appointed Working Group,
evaluates issues and concerns relative to traffic, transit, pedestrian, bicycle, and parking
safety. The TSG makes recommendations to the Select Board and the Town Manager.
The working group includes citizens and representatives of the Police, Public Works,
Planning and School Departments.
Regarding the sidewalk network, including ramps, DPW maintains the primary
responsibility for both maintenance and capital projects of the existing sidewalk network,
while the TSG focuses on the need for new sidewalks and pedestrian ramps, and
bringing safety-related concerns about the existing network to the attention of DPW.
Sidewalk replacement, extension and new construction are costly initiatives. Embedded
in these costs are sidewalk -construction obstructions, easement issues, and
negotiations with residents. The DPW and TSG overall policy has been to develop a
prioritized sidewalk -construction plan focusing on the "Safe Routes to School Program",
other high -pedestrian -traffic routes, and streets with high walking hazards. All
reconstructed/new sidewalks and their pedestrian ramps are designed and constructed
to comply with the ADA. The DPW typically requests $800,000 per year for sidewalk
improvement, usually resulting in approximately 15,000 linear feet of sidewalk
improvements. The total of $870,000 for FY2026 reflected an additional request for
$70,000 to study and improve sidewalks around town buildings. The request is $20,000
higher for FY2027, for a total of $820,000.
The FY2027 request for new sidewalks is in Article 12(k), and the request for sidewalk
improvements is in Article 12(f). School Paving and Sidewalks is in Article 16(c).
Townwide Signal Improvements
The town maintains signals other than those under the jurisdiction of the Massachusetts
Department of Transportation.
29
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
When Town intersections are improved, new signals are installed, if appropriate, with
"smart" controls. These controls provide efficiencies like preventing light changes when
there are no cars approaching or waiting and watching for pedestrians waiting to cross.
Ten of the Town's signalized intersections have been upgraded with smart signalization.
Upgrading signals is generally done in conjunction with other intersection work.
There is no funding request for FY2027.
Water Distribution System
Many of the Town's 178 miles of water mains were installed in the early 1900s and
require an ongoing engineering program for pipe cleaning, lining, or replacement. On an
annual basis, the DPW implements work for cleaning, lining, and/or replacement of
unlined, inadequate, aged, and breaking water mains to improve water quality, pressure,
and fire -protection capabilities, and to reduce frequency and severity of water -main
breaks, as well as to minimize long lengths of pipe not fed at both ends (known as "dead
ends"). This work often requires excavation prior to pipe -condition analysis. Work also
focuses on replacing aging mains or those with a higher break history. The Town's
annual funding requests are now generally about $2.3 million, so that 1% of the Town's
water -piping can be replaced each year. See Article 13.
Plans for the next five years anticipate water main replacements on Hayden Ave. and
Marshall Road.
Heavy equipment and trucks used by the Water Division to maintain the system are
procured with Water Enterprise funds that are funded directly by Water -rate payers.
Where equipment is shared with the Sewer Division, the costs are split.
Work to research and design repairs and eventually replacements for the Town's two
water tanks looms in the future, but there is no funding request for FY2027. These tanks
were built in 1933 and 1950, and are now approaching the end of their useful lives. A
recent analysis has determined that the foundations for the two tanks are sound,
indicating that repairs are viable in the short term while a long-term resolution is
explored.
Hydrant System
This Committee continues to encourage ongoing hydrant replacement and supports the
level of funding proposed, which remains at $150,000 per year, estimated to allow the
replacement of approximately 60 per year of the Town's 1,747 hydrants. Hydrants have
an estimated life of 50 years. Funding for hydrant replacement continues to be evenly
divided between Tax Levy funds and the Water Enterprise Fund. For the FY2027
funding request see Article 12(g).
30
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
Wastewater System
The sanitary -sewer system has about 176 miles of main sewer line and 8.5 miles of
pumped "force main" lines, and, like the water -distribution system, has sections that
date back to the early 1900s. Due to age-related deterioration, some sections are
susceptible to storm -water inflow and groundwater infiltration which increases the total
flow to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) treatment system,
resulting in increased charges to the Town, overload of parts of the system, and the
potential to spread waterborne disease. Engineering has an ongoing program of
investigating, evaluating, repairing, and replacing sections of the system. This work has
been partially funded by the MWRA Infiltration/Inflow (1/1) Local Financial Assistance
Program. The FY2027 funding request is for approximately $1.1 million. See Articles
14(a) and (b).
The system has ten sewage -pumping stations that need continual maintenance and
periodic major upgrades. DPW is to be commended for upgrading several stations in
recent years. See Article 14(b). Heavy equipment and trucks used by the Sewer Division
are procured with Sewer Enterprise Funds that are funded by Sewer rate -payer fees,
additional fees and charges, investment income, and connection fees. In cases where
equipment is shared with the Water Division, the costs are split.
Stormwater Management Program
Storm drains collect stormwater along Town streets and parking areas and convey this
water to streams and other bodies of water. The storm -drain pipes, and the 4,700 catch
basins that direct stormwater to them, occasionally fail due to heavy loads passing over
and/or loss of supporting soil, which can cause holes in the street. In addition, as streets
are repaired and repaved, it is often discovered that the storm -drainage system has
become seriously deteriorated. Concurrent drainage -system repairs are required to
prevent further deterioration and to protect the newly paved streets. Drains also have to
be analyzed and repaired where overflow conditions develop or complaints are
received.
The Stormwater Management Program combines several programs which were
separated in prior years: the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES),
the Comprehensive Watershed Stormwater Management System, and the culvert
replacement program.
The goal of the Federal NPDES program, under which the Town has a State -
administered permit, is to maintain water quality in the drainage system. A number of
municipalities nationwide, including some in Massachusetts, have instituted a
Stormwater Management Fee to offset the capital and operating costs of managing
stormwater emanating from private properties. To date, our town has not implemented
such a fee.
31
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
In addition, the Engineering Department has developed several approaches to hold
down future NPDES compliance costs, including, for example, implementing Illicit
Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE) requirements; the use of volunteer interns
to help with the IDDE work; and an innovative, lower cost phosphorus removal plan
developed in conjunction with the Town of Arlington and the University of New
Hampshire.
In order that the Town's storm -drainage system capacity is maintained to handle runoff
from impervious surfaces, the Town must manage the stormwater runoff associated with
its 18 brooks and three watersheds. Additionally, sediment deposits, organic debris, and
refuse can impede the flow of water through watershed areas, and cause flooding and
damage to private property, thus creating liabilities for the Town. The Charles River,
Shawsheen River, and Mystic River watershed -management plans have all been
completed and the work is ongoing.
There are 93 culverts in Town. A culvert is defined as a pipe or drain that carries a
stream under a roadway. Many older culverts are near or at failure. DPW has a
Townwide Culvert Assessment and Asset Management Plan to identify needs for regular
culvert replacement and extraordinary repairs.
The funding request for FY2027 is for approximately $2.6 million for these combined
efforts. See Article 12(i).
Public Grounds
The Town owns approximately 630 acres of land of which approximately 110 acres are
in parks, playgrounds, golf course, conservation areas, athletic facilities, school
grounds, and historical sites. In addition, DPW staff administers and maintains four
cemeteries with a combined area of just over 30 acres. The Forestry staff maintains
approximately 10,000 trees along roadways and an undetermined number of trees,
shrubs, and plantings on Town -owned land.
In FY2027 there is a request for $67,458 to pave a training area at the Harwell Avenue
facility. See Article 12(m).
DPW Equipment
DPW currently has 146 pieces of significant equipment including pick-up and dump
trucks, construction vehicles, and specialized equipment including pumps, rollers,
sprayers, and mowers. Replacement intervals vary from 5 to 20 years and are based
upon manufacturers' recommendations and DPW experience. Most of these vehicles
have individual acquisition costs more than $25,000; therefore, their replacement would
normally be characterized as Capital and subject to this Committee's review.
32
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
DPW has developed a well -conceived program, which includes annual updates
produced by Division Superintendents, with review by the Manager of Operations and
Department of Public Works Director. This program replaces older, less fuel-efficient,
and high -maintenance equipment with standard, off-the-shelf, vehicles and equipment
that will last longer and cost less to maintain and operate. (The Department is beginning
to transition some of its light-duty, non -emergency vehicles to hybrid or electric; much of
its heavy-duty or continuous -use equipment is not yet available in battery -powered
alternatives.) Inflation in durable goods has led to steady increases in the amount
requested each year. The FY2027 funding request is for $1,700,000, of which the
majority is from the tax levy and smaller amounts (roughly 10%, respectively) are from
the water enterprise fund. For the list of this year's requested equipment, see Article
12(e).
DPW 5 -Year Capital Appropriation History (All Sources)
FY2022
I FY2023 I FY2024 FY2025 FY2026
Capital Using Tax Levy, CPF, Other Capital Cash,
and Chapter 90 Funds
DPW Equipment
$ 1,165,000
$ 1,536,000
$ 1,820,000
$ 1,215,000
$ 1,816,000
Street Improvements & Easements
$ 2,651,674
$ 3,651,998
$ 3,678,740
$ 2,707,000
$ 2,726,806
Street Lights/Traffic Signals
$ -
$ 125,000
$ -
$ 50,000
$ -
Battle Green Master Plan
$ -
$ 4,975,000
$ -
$ -
$ -
Sidewalk Improvements
$ 1,450,000
$ 875,000
$ 2,420,000
$ 800,000
$ 870,000
New Sidewalk Installations
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ 150,000
Stormwater Management Program
$ 1,350,000
$ 1,350,000
$ 1,350,000
$ 2,642,500
$ 2,642,500
Hydrant Replacement
$ 75,000
$ 75,000
$ 75,000
$ 75,000
$ 75,000
Public Parking Lot Improvement
$ 100,000
$ 160,000
$ 575,000
$ 15,000
$ -
Parking System Replacement
$ 343,237
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
Staging for Special Events
$ 65,000
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
Hartwell Ave. Infrastructure
Improvements
$ -
$ 65,000
$ -
$ -
$ -
Adams Street Intersection
Improvements
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ 325,000
DPW Building Improvements
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ 120,000
Bedford St. & Hartwell Ave. Long -
Range Impacts
$ -
$ -
$ 1,750,000
$ -
$ -
Subtotal
$ 7,199,9111$12,812,9981$11,668,740,$
7,504,500
$ 8,725,306
Capital Using Enterprise Funds
Sanitary Sewer
Sanitary Sewer System $ 1,000,000 $ 1,020,000 $ 1,040,404 $ 1,061,000 $ 1,082,431
Pump Station Upgrades $ 520,000 $ 2,000,000 $ 75,000 $ 50,000 $ -
DPW Equipment $ 110,000 $ - $ - $ 260,000 $ 127,500
Subtotal $ 1,630,000 $ 3,020,000 $ 1,115,404 $ 1,371,000 $ 1,209,931
Water
Water Mains Relining &
Replacement
$ 1,110,000
$ 1,110,000
$ 4,209,580
$ 2,289,000
$ 2,334,940
DPW Equipment
$ 145,000
$ 145,000
$ -
$ 125,000
$ 127,500
Hydrant Replacement
$ 75,000
$ 75,000
$ 5,000
$ 75,000
$ 75,000
33
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
Water Tower Replacement
$ 300,000
$ 300,000
$ —
$ —
$ —
Subtotal
$ 1,630,000
$ 1,630,000
$ 4,214,580
$ 2,489,000
$ 2,537,440
Enterprise Fund Total
$ 3,260,000
$ 4,650,000
$ 5,329,984
$ 3,860,000
$ 3,747,371
Capital Using Revolving Funds
Compost Operating Revolving Fund
DPW Equipment
$ 275,000
$ —
$ —
$ 320,000
$ —
Hartwell Ave. Compost Site
Improvements
$ 200,000
$ —
$ —
$ —
$ —
Subtotal
$ 475,000
$ —
$ —
$ 320,000
$ —
Sale of Cemetery Lots Special Revolving Fund
Westview Cemetery Irrigation
$ —
$ —
$ —
$ —
$ —
Westview Cemetery Columbarium
$ —
$ —
$ —
$ 50,000
$ —
Subtotal
$ —
$ —
$ —
$ 50,000
$ —
Revolving Fund Totals
1 $ 475,0001$
—Is
—
$ 370,0001$
—
Grand Total$10,934,911
$17,462,998 $16,998,724 $11,734,500 $12,472,677
Public Facilities
The Department of Public Facilities (DPF) coordinates and cares for all Town -owned
buildings under the control of the Select Board, Town Manager, Library Trustees,
Recreation Committee, and School Committee. Expenses associated with the DPF
staffing, maintenance (including preventive maintenance), custodial services, capital -
project management, utilities, landscaping and grounds (at schools only), and managing
of building rentals and other reservations for use of building spaces are the
responsibility of this department.
DPF is currently responsible for 30 properties:
• Town Office Building
• Cary Memorial Building (CMB)
• Police Station
• Fire Headquarters
• East Lexington Fire Station
• Samuel Hadley Public Services Building
• Stone Building (in caretaker status)
• Cary Memorial Library
• Visitors Center
• Lexington Community Center
• Unit in the Muzzey Condominiums, 1475 Massachusetts Avenue (in caretaker
status)
• Westview Cemetery
34
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
• Animal Shelter, Westview Street
• 173 Bedford Street (currently swing space for the Lexington Public Schools
Central Office)
• Ten schools (Including 1 preschool, 6 elementary, 2 middle, and LHS)
• Old Harrington School (the Schools' Central Administration Office).
• Center Pool Complex
• Center Recreation bathroom facilities
• Reservoir facility
• Lincoln Park bathroom facilities
• Water Tower communications building
The DPF is organized around four areas: Administration, Project Management, Facility
Maintenance and Repair, and Custodial Services. Administration administers the
Department. Project Management handles major capital renovations and provides staff
support to the Town's Permanent Building Committee for new construction. Facility
Maintenance and Repair maintains and repairs all the facilities listed above. Custodial
Services is responsible for custodial services in all those facilities except the fire stations
and the Westview Cemetery building. DPF has taken a systematic approach to
assessing the needs of both Municipal and School buildings, including roofs, flooring,
building envelope, and school playground, paved surfaces, and sidewalk areas. In a few
cases the needs are met by programs with annual funding and could be considered
more as ongoing extraordinary maintenance. However, as the needs exist and the work
has traditionally been funded using GF cash, the Committee supports labeling these
projects as "Capital."
The 2025 ATM approved several DPF-related appropriations:
• Public Facilities Bid Documents (2025 ATM, Article 16(a) $125,000): The
department continues to utilize these funds as required by projects that come up
during the year.
• Public Facilities Interior Finishes (2025 ATM Article 16(b) $450,000): This Article
is an annual program. The DPF uses approximately half of the appropriation to
repair/replace flooring at various schools and Town buildings. The remaining
funds are used to improve various interior finishes including but not limited to;
bathroom renovations, space reorganization for improved efficiency of layout,
renovating office spaces, etc. Last year the funds were used to replace 20
classroom floors at Clarke Middle School, renovate three elementary school main
offices (Harrington, Bridge and Bowman), and replace flooring at the Community
Center.
• School Paving and Sidewalks (2025 ATM Article 16(c)): During the summer of
2025, the Harrington Elementary School sidewalks were replaced. The sidewalks
had suffered a significant amount of spalling (a condition where the top surface of
35
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
concrete flakes off and leaves the surface uneven). This is a tripping hazard. The
work was completed prior to the start of the current school year.
• Municipal Building Envelopes and Associated Systems (2025 ATM Article 16(d)):
Work has begun at the Community Center to replace the slate roof, exterior door
systems, and single pane windows located in the mansion side of the facility.
Work is expected to be completed during the summer/fall of 2026.
• Central Administration Building Demolition (2025 ATM Article 16(e)): In January,
the Lexington School Department Central Administration moved into the 173
Bedford St swing space. Immediately afterward, the demolition contractor set up
site at the former Central Administration building located at 146 Maple St. A
perimeter fence has been installed, and the contractor has begun selective
demolition inside the building. The abatement process is anticipated to be
completed by March 1, 2026 with demolition of the entire building scheduled to
be completed by April 15, 2026.
• Estabrook Elementary School Nurse Bathroom Renovation (2025 ATM Article
16(f)): This project was completed on time and under budget before the start of
this current school year.
Updates on 2024 ATM Appropriations
• LHS School Project (2024 ATM, Article 26 $10,000,000): The Town and the
MSBA have signed a formal Project Scope and Budget Agreement. This
agreement established the cost of the project and the value of reimbursement
from the MSBA. The project is now in the Design Development Phase and will be
submitted to the MSBA on April 20, 2026. The early site packages are currently
being developed, and earth work is expected to begin by July 1, 2026. At that
time, the public will see the site fencing be erected, the construction trailers being
mobilized, the heavy equipment removing topsoil, and the geothermal wells work
starting by early fall.
• Cary Memorial Library Renovation Project (2024 ATM Article 10(a) $5,500,000):
The construction work was completed by the end of February 2026. The Library
is currently moving into the space. The new Children's Room should open to the
public on or before April 1, 2026
• Renovation of 173 Bedford Street (2024 ATM Article 27 $6,000,000): The
renovation was completed on Jan 6, 2026 and a temporary certificate of
occupancy was issued. LPS Central Office moved into the space over the
following two weeks and is currently in full operation.
36
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
• Pine Meadows Clubhouse Renovation Project (2024 ATM, Article 25): The Pine
Meadows renovation construction was completed in early October 2025, the
entire facility will be fully operational for the 2026 golf season. The remaining
project is a solar system installation on the roof of the Clubhouse as well as over
the garage driveway. This work is expected to commence in the spring of 2026.
The DPF is using the building assessment to develop a 20 -year capital plan. This
information feeds directly into the 5 -year capital plan that was submitted. The current
budgeting and finance planning is for all five years: FY2027 through FY2031. DPF
narratives include significant facility needs that should be addressed including the East
Lexington Fire Station, and the Town Office Building.
37
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
Public Facilities 5 -Year Capital Appropriation History (All Sources)
(Exclusive of Land -Acquisition Costs)
Program
FY2022
I FY2023
I FY2024
FY2025
FY2026
Municipal (School(s) included)
Stone Building Design & Repair
$ -
$ -
$ 400,000
$ -
$ -
173 Bedford Street
$ -
$ -
$ 100,000
$ 6,000,000
$ -
Visitor Center Renovation/Upgrade
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
Westview Cemetery Building
$ 770,000
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
Bathhouses &Adjacent Facilities
$ -
$ 1,080,000
$ -
$ -
$ -
Pine Meadows Building
$ -
$ 120,000
$ 2,575,000
$ -
Irving Mabee Pool Water Heater
$ -
$ 91,000
$ -
$ -
$ -
Public Facilities Bid Documents
$ 100,000
$ 100,000
$ 125,000
$ 125,000
$ 125,000
Building Envelope
$ 214,186
$ 219,540
$ 225,029
$ 450,000
$ -
Town Wide Roofing
$ 528,000
$ 428,000
$ -
$ -
$ -
Major Electrical/Mechanical
Systems Upgrades
$ 728,000
$ 787,000
$ 849,200
$ 4,015,000
$ -
Building Floor Program
$ -
$ 150,000
$ -
$ -
$ -
East Lexington Fire Headquarters
$ -
$ -
$ 50,000
$ -
$ -
Police Headquarters New Facility'
$ 870,000
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
Police Station Adjacent Solar
Canopy
$ -
$ -
$ 3,400,000
$ -
$ -
Cary Memorial Library Renovation
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ 5,500,000
$ -
Subtotal
$ 3,210,186
$ 2,855,540
$ 5,269,229
$18,665,000 $
125,000
Schools (Sole recipient for each)
High School Overcrowding
Renovations/Expansions
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
High School Replacement or
Renovation
$ -
$ 1,825,000
$ -
$10,000,000
$ -
High School Equip Emergency Fund
$ -
$ 500,000
$ -
$ -
$ -
Building Envelope & Systems
$ 245,199
$ 251,400
$ 1,457,864
$ -
$ -
School Paving & Sidewalks Program
$ 125,000
$ 145,000
$ 265,000
$ 265,000
$ 200,000
Interior Renovations
$ 125,000
$ -
$ 407,200
$ -
$ -
Subtotal
$ 495,199
$ 2,721,400
$ 2,130,064
1$10,265,0001$
200,000
Municipal & School Totals
1 $ 3,705,385
$ 5,576,940
$ 7,399,293
1$28,930,0001$
325,000
Town -Owned Building Under
Lease
Munroe Center for the Artsz
1 $ -
$ -
$ 6,635,191
$-
$ -
Grand Totals
1 $ 3,705,385
$ 5,576,940
1$1114,034,4841$28,930,000 $
325,000
1) Includes costs for the interim facility at 173 Bedford St - initially for the Fire Headquarters use and
then to rehabilitate that facility for the Police Headquarters use.
2) DPF required to approve & oversee all renovations to that Town -owned building under lease to that
company.
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
Recreation
Recreation Department programs are funded from three sources:
• General -Fund Tax Levy: The General Fund Tax Levy supports the wages
associated with the three full time employees for the Community Center
(Community Center Director, Youth & Family Coordinator and Admin Asst).
Capital projects that do not qualify for CPC funds are paid through Tax Levy, Free
Cash/Bond and the Recreation Enterprise Fund. (e.g., used for neighborhood
playgrounds, athletic fields, and basketball court improvements if not
recommended by the Community Preservation Committee for CPA funding).
• R&CP EF (e.g., used for fee-based activities such as at Pine Meadows Golf
Course, Community Center, Irving H. Mabee Pool, Old Reservoir, and tennis
courts).
• CPA funds (available for creation and preservation of recreation facilities,
including those for fee-based activities). CPA monies have enabled some large
projects which otherwise might not have been financially viable, for example
renovations at Lincoln Fields.
Current and Recent Projects
The demand for athletic playing fields remains strong, with a current shortage of fields
relative to demand. A significant near-term challenge is the loss of fields while the High
School is replaced, due to some of the fields being taken offline for the construction and
need for space to store materials and machinery during construction. In an effort to
reduce the impact the town will construct two rectangular fields at the site of Old
Harrington Elementary School which is being taken down. See Article 10(e).
The Recreation and Community Programs Department has a large number of projects
recently completed or in progress, or seeking funding: The Community Park Master
Plan for Lincoln Park will allow the Recreation Committee to properly coordinate capital
projects and annual upgrades identified by the Recreation & Community Programs
Department, Recreation Committee, Lincoln Park Sub -Committee, as well as
stakeholders and those desired by the community. The Master Plan was approved in
2024 by the Recreation Committee and is one tool that the Committee and staff are
utilizing during the CIP planning process.
The Lincoln Park Field Improvements approved at ATM 2023, $3.391 million, for
reconstruction of field 1, and lighting for fields 1 & 3. The work was completed in 2024.
The 2024 ATM approved $1,810,000 is for laser grading and turf replacement for field 2
($1,145,000 from CPF and $665,000 from the general fund). The Lincoln Field #2
project went out to bid in February 2025, completed late 2025. In addition, $160,000
from CPF was approved for new fitness equipment. Of the $160,000, $40,000 was
39
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
approved from the Teresa and Roberta Lee public trust. The fitness equipment project is
anticipated to be completed by the end of spring 2026.
The Center area projects to renovate the Gallagher tennis courts and Center basketball
courts, and replace the bathroom facilities were completed in early 2024. The Center
Playground is being renovated with a $1,490,000 allocation from ATM 2025. Weather
dependent, the project will mobilize in mid -late March, and it is anticipated to be
complete in mid- late May.
At Pine Meadows golf course some cart paths and tee boxes were renovated or moved
in the spring of 2024. At the 2024 ATM $110,000 from the RE was approved for
renovations to fuel bays and safety netting for the practice area and $2,575,000 was
approved to renovate the Pine Meadows Clubhouse. The new fuel bays were installed
in the Summer of 2024. The Clubhouse Renovation finished in the fall of 2025, with the
practice area to follow. The addition of a solar canopy is under the direction of the
Department of Public Facilities and is expected to begin in the spring of 2026. (See
Article 11)
The 2024 ATM approved $545,000 for Bridge Field renovation, and is expected to be
completed in 2026.
Fiske Park & Playground Improvements and Athletic Fields renovation with laser
grading, new backstops, new natural grass, signage and fencing, and creation of
walkways to provide accessibility between team areas and different ball fields in
accordance with the Town's 2017 ADA compliance study began in the fall of 2024. The
field renovation is complete. Additional ADA improvements at Fiske and other
playgrounds are anticipated. (See Article 10(f))
The Old Reservoir Bathhouse project was put out to bid in the spring of 2023. The bids
came in over the allocated funds, and the project was put on hold while alternatives
were considered. The project was then brought in-house to be managed by the
Department of Public Facilities and a full renovation of the existing building was
completed in time for the 2025 season.
The Muzzey Athletic fields project was put out to bid in 2022 including two accessible
paths, and was completed in the summer of 2024.
The 2024 ATM approved $492,000 from the CPF for replacement of the Valley Road
hardcourts for tennis and pickleball. The Valley Courts reconstruction project is currently
on hold. During the design phase that began in Fall 2024, it was determined that to
follow the Town's Stormwater Management Bylaw, additional stormwater mitigation
would be needed that was not included in the initial project budget. This project went out
to bid in March 2025, and the bid results came in substantially over budget. A
supplemental funding request of $380,000, scheduled for FY28, is to cover the gap
between the amount that has already been appropriated and the anticipated cost to
complete the project.
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
Recreation 5 -Year Capital Appropriation History (All Sources)
Program
FY2022
FY2023
FY2024
FY2025
FY2026
Athletic Fields
$ 155,000
$ 250,000
$ 285,000
$ 645,000
$ 1,197,904
Park, Playgrounds & Tot Lots
$ 395,000
$ 200,000
$ 155,000
70
$ 1,490,000
Pine Meadows Golf Course
$ 87,000
$ 95,000
$ 394,000
$ 2,685,000
2,541
Irving H. Mabee Pool
Middle Schools
(6-8)
1,849
$ 35,000
1,765
1,737
Lincoln Fields Improvements
1,692
$ 100,000
$ 3,391,500
$ 2,000,000
$ 1,950,000
Hard Court Resurfacing
2,4051
$ 2,500,000
Totals
$ 492,000
6,690
Lincoln Parking Lot
I
I
I
1
1 $ 375,000
Totals
$ 637,000
$ 3,145,000
$ 4,260,500
$ 5,822,000
$ 5,012,904
Schools
Overview
The Lexington Public Schools (LPS) provide educational, athletic, and club activities for
students in grades Pre -Kindergarten -12. This is the enrollment for the current and the
four previous academic years:
Enrollment in Lexington Public Schools'
Capacity
Academic Year
Grades
2021-2022
2022-2023
2023-2024
2024-2025
2025-2026
Pre -Kindergarten*
(Pre -K)
83
67
75
76
70
68
Elementary (K-5)
3,248
2,702
2,702
2,674
2,541
2,416
Middle Schools
(6-8)
1,849
1,748
1,765
1,737
1,732
1,692
High School (9-12)
1,850
2,173
2,303
2,318
2,4051
2,348
Totals
1 7,0301
6,690
6,845
6,805
6,7481
6,524
' Enrollment figures are those as of October 1st as required by the State's Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) for each academic year.
LCP has capacity for 83 full-time or 166 part-time students or any equivalent combination
that adds to 83 FTE.
LPS currently owns and operates a preschool (the Lexington Children's Place (LCP)),
six elementary-school buildings, two middle -school buildings, and the high-school
complex of four, freestanding, academic buildings, and a field house. Central Office
("Administration") personnel and services are currently housed in swing space at 173
Bedford St until the new high school is ready for occupancy. The maintenance of these
fifteen buildings is overseen by the DPF.
41
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
Starting in 2005 with the opening of the Harrington elementary school, the Town of
Lexington has been building and renovating its school buildings to address issues of
obsolescence and what had been rising enrollments. A new building for LCP opened in
2019. The following elementary-school buildings have been replaced with new schools:
Harrington [2005], Fiske [2007], Estabrook [2014] and Maria Hastings [2020]. The
Bowman and Bridge elementary schools were renovated and expanded via space
mining [2013]. The middle schools Clarke and Diamond were renovated and expanded
[2017]. In addition, modular classrooms were added to Bowman, Bridge, and Fiske
[2017], and in two phases at the high school [2014, 2016]. The Massachusetts School
Building Authority (MSBA) has accepted the high-school project into the fourth module
or phase of its reimbursement program, with construction to begin in the summer of
2026.
In the 2020-2021 school year, the national COVID-19 pandemic impacted school
enrollments, reducing student loads across the board. Since that time the enrollments
have continued to decline in the middle schools, and in particular in the elementary
schools. This decline in students from existing housing is expected to reach the high
school in the coming years as those students reach high school age. It should be noted,
though, that additional students are anticipated to be entering the public school system
as a result of new housing construction in the same timeframe. The preschool,
elementary, and middle schools have sufficient capacity and plans for a new high school
are underway (see commentary below). However, the Town is potentially at another
inflection point in student population as a result of MBTA bylaw zoning changes adopted
at 2023 ATM. Construction of new, multi -family housing has occurred more rapidly and
at a greater scale than originally anticipated. The Superintendent's Office reconvened
the School Master Planning Committee to reinvestigate options if student populations
exceed current capacity. Additionally, the Office has conducted an impact study on
known building projects related to MBTA rezoning on student population projections. We
are pleased LPS is being proactive rather than being reactive as adding capacity is an
expensive, multi-year effort.
Preschool: The capacity at LCP for the educational program is 166 slots (a half-day
student takes one slot, and a full-day student takes two slots) across programs for
Intensive Learning Program, integrated special education, and general education. The
enrollment tends to start low at the start of the school year and grow during the year as
children reach the age of two years and nine months and become eligible for the
program.
Elementary schools: Each school is operating well within its capacity. Elementary
enrollments are now projected to decline slightly to 2,445 through FY2028 and will
remain safely below capacity. One issue for the town, regardless of fluctuations in
student population, is that Bridge and Bowman Schools are older facilities that may
require extensive renovation or replacement in the next decade.
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
Middle schools: Both Diamond and Clarke are within capacity. Enrollments are
currently projected to increase to 1,717 in FY2028, well below the buildings' capacity.
Going forward, as smaller elementary classes replace the larger cohorts currently in the
middle school enrollments from the current housing stock are expected to decline.
Further expansion of both the middle schools is constrained by the presence of
wetlands.
High School: Lexington High School has suffered from overcrowding for several years.
While student enrollment is forecasted to drop to 2,367 by FY2028, the building core
spaces were meant for only 1850 students. A Debt Exclusion to fund a new high school
was passed on December 8, 2025 and the project is currently in Design Development.
A School Building Committee (SBC) was formed to oversee the project to address the
age and overcrowding of the high school, and the Town selected Dore & Whittier as the
Owners Project Manager (OPM), and SMMA as the Designer. These representatives
are the project team for the duration of the LHS project. Lexington High School was
invited into the Massachusetts School Building Authority School Building (MSBA) Grant
Program in June 2022. In November 2024, the SBC voted to select the "Bloom" study
as the preferred conceptual design. The Bloom design is all new construction to be
located on the fields next to the existing Lexington High School. In December, 2025, the
town approved a Proposition 2 '/2 debt exclusion for approximately $533 million, which,
when added to $121.3 million of MSBA Grant Program funding, $4.5 million of Mass
Save energy grants and $1 million LABBB contribution, will cover the $659.7 million cost
of the new high school.
The debt service related to this project will be excluded from the limits of Proposition 2
'/2, and principal and interest on long- and short-term debt will be funded outside the
levy limit. The debt service payments will be partially offset and smoothed out for
taxpayers by the Capital Stabilization Fund which has been built up over the past 12
years. Debt service will begin to come due in FY2027 and will increase in the following
years, likely peaking in the FY2030-2035 timeframe. As outlined in the policy section of
this document, the Town's fiscal guideline to set-aside tax levy from new development in
specified areas is expected to partly offset Exempt Debt Service, beginning in FY2027
with the use of $800,000, to smooth out the tax burden on taxpayers during the peak
payment years. Detailed information about the Lexington High School construction
timing, location, design, cost estimates, public engagement, committee meetings and
frequently asked questions are all available on the School Building Project website at:
www.lhsproject.lexingtonma.org.
In February 2026, the town issued $25M in excluded debt for the LHS project design.
The town received a highly favorable Aaa bond rating and interest rate, reflecting
Lexington as a good investment.
43
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
School Technology Program
There is a long-term plan to upgrade technology for students and staff throughout the
schools by replacing the oldest computers, Chromebooks, iPads, peripherals, projection
systems, network -delivery systems, and other associated hardware and software to
have enhanced Pre -K through grade 12 instructional and administrative tools. (See
Article 15.) Funding for at least some of the shorter lifespan technology items will be
cash funding within the operating budget to avoid the costs of debt financing.
Schools -Managed 5 -Year Capital Appropriation History (All Sources)
FY2022 I FY2023 I FY2024 I FY2025 I FY2026
Technology 1 $ 1,186,236 $ 1,343,006 $ 1,465,488 $ 1,323,050 $ 1,500,910
Innovation & Technology
This department supports, maintains and manages the Town's Information Technology
(IT) systems (hardware, software, and Web sites) which provide critical program
management for all the Town's departmental operations. Services provided include:
municipal IT hardware/software operations and support for all activities; staff training;
financial -management hardware and software (including the Town's Munis system)
maintenance that serves Town and School departments; electronic mail and Internet
access; Town website support; phone Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) infrastructure
and applications; head -end management and support; and co -management, with
School Department Information Technology staff, of the Town's wide -area network
actively connecting to 28 Town and School buildings.
There are three FY2027 requests. See Articles 12(n,o,p).
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
Innovation & Technology 5 -Year Capital Appropriation History (All
Sources)
Town Clerk's Office
This Office is the primary repository of official documents for the Town, and the
custodian of, and recording office overseeing the maintenance, disposition, and
preservation of municipal archival records and materials. Responsibilities include the
issuance of vital records and statistics as well as preparation and distribution of dog
licenses and business certificates. The Office is tasked with the posting of meetings of
all government bodies in accordance with the Open Meeting Law as well as providing
access to public records in compliance with the State Public Records Law. Additional
responsibilities include administration of the annual census and ethics training
compliance, recording of all Town Meeting actions, schedule reporting to the
Department of Revenue and Attorney General, and, in conjunction with the Board of
Registrars, supervision of all election related activities in conformance with State and
local laws.
There is one FY2027 request; see Article 10(a).
Town Clerk's Office 5 -Year Capital Appropriation History (All Sources)
FY2022
FY2023
FY2024
FY2025
FY2026
Cary Library Network
$ 95,000
$ —
$ —
$ —
$ —
Network Core Equipment
is —
$ 20,0001$
35,0001$
20,0001$
21,000
Replacement
$ —
$ —
$ 980,000
$ 550,000
$ —
Municipal Technology
Improvement
$ —
$ —
$ 550,000
$ 550,000
$ 150,000
MIS/Network Technology
Improvement Program
$ —
$ —
$ 161,000
$ 161,000
$ 760,000
Scanning Electronic
Document Management
$ —
$ 110,000
$ 110,000
$ —
$ —
Network Redundancy &
Improvement Plan
$ —
$ 945,000
$ 988,094
$ 998,500
$ —
Application
Implementation
$ —
$ 158,500
$ —
$ —
$ —
Totals
$ 95,000,$
1,213,500,$
2y789,094,$
2,259,500
$ 910,000
Town Clerk's Office
This Office is the primary repository of official documents for the Town, and the
custodian of, and recording office overseeing the maintenance, disposition, and
preservation of municipal archival records and materials. Responsibilities include the
issuance of vital records and statistics as well as preparation and distribution of dog
licenses and business certificates. The Office is tasked with the posting of meetings of
all government bodies in accordance with the Open Meeting Law as well as providing
access to public records in compliance with the State Public Records Law. Additional
responsibilities include administration of the annual census and ethics training
compliance, recording of all Town Meeting actions, schedule reporting to the
Department of Revenue and Attorney General, and, in conjunction with the Board of
Registrars, supervision of all election related activities in conformance with State and
local laws.
There is one FY2027 request; see Article 10(a).
Town Clerk's Office 5 -Year Capital Appropriation History (All Sources)
45
FY2022
FY2023
FY2024
FY2025
FY2026
Election System
$ 64,865
$ —
Archives & Records
Management/Conservation &
Restoration
is —
$ 20,0001$
35,0001$
20,0001$
21,000
Totals
$ —
$ 20,0001$
35,0001$
84,8651$
21,000
45
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
Affordable Housing
To provide for the needs of its residents and to meet State law, the Town must plan and
budget for the continuing creation and maintenance of units of affordable housing.
Indeed, increasing affordable housing is both a priority for Lexington constituents and
the State.
Massachusetts General Law Chapter 40B, passed in 1969, requires each municipality
in the Commonwealth to have 10% of its housing "affordable" as defined by the statute
and its regulations. To be maintained as affordable, a unit must be subject to a long-
term, preferably perpetual, deed restriction limiting its sale price to the affordable level
as determined at the time of sale. To encourage more rental -unit creation, the statute
also provides that if a rental -housing development deed restricts 25% of its units, all the
rental units will count as part of the town's Subsidized Housing Inventory (SHI), even
though 75% of them are actually priced at market rate.
Since Lexington's adoption of the Act in 2006, CPA funds have been the primary means
of adding to Lexington's affordable housing inventory. Ten percent of each year's
revenue under the Act is mandated to be allocated for community (low or moderate
income) housing. However, the use of CPF funds for housing lagged the other 3
categories, until the creation of the Affordable Housing Trust. Now spending on Housing
is on par with Open Space at just under 20% of cumulative CPA spending since 2007.
The Affordable Housing Trust. The AHT, created by Town Meeting vote in 2022 (STM
2022-3, Article 12), acts primarily as a source of funds to (1) buy land or housing, (2)
provide funding to developers of market rate housing to create affordable units or further
discount the rent on existing affordable units, (3) finance construction (for example by
providing funds to LexHAB or other affordable housing development entity). The Trust
can act quickly to purchase property when opportunities arise since once funds are in
the Trust there is no need to go to the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) or
Town meeting. Town funds or AHT funds require an affordable housing deed restriction,
as well as Town monitoring and compliance of a project, in addition to AHT oversight.
CPA funds contributed $7.7 million in funding for the AHT in FY2024-26. The CPC has
voted in favor of appropriating an additional $3.2 million to the AHT in FY2027 as part of
its request to Town Meeting (see Article 10(c)). The AHT recently helped the Town to
secure the $1.6m Commonwealth One Stop grant, which will be used to create more
affordable units at the project at Militia Drive, but will not be allocated to the AHT directly.
These balances will likely reduce next year, as the AHT's many initiatives will require
funding. LexHAB and the Lexington Housing Authority have potential projects that will
require design and construction funding in FY2027. The AHT is working with the
developer of Lowell/North Street, where 3.2 acres of previously Town owned land will
be transformed into a 40 -unit all -affordable housing project (2024 ATM, Article 33). The
EN
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
AHT has committed to providing a $500,000 loan upon closing. Finally, the AHT will
continue to buy down market rate units being created by developers as a result of the
MBTA rezoning initiative. Please see Appendix D for AHT's past and projected revenues
and potential expenditures FY2025-FY2031.
The Lexington Housing Authority (LHA), is a five -member board, created in 1969
under Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 121 B. Under the statute, municipal housing
authorities manage State- and Federal -subsidized housing units and administer Federal
housing vouchers to individuals and households who qualify. As of this year, the LHA will
own or manage 77 Federal units, 148 State units, and 14 subsidized, privately owned
units. The LHA also administers 76 housing vouchers, including MRVP (Massachusetts
Rental Voucher Program) Section 8 vouchers which are used by households to pay
private landlords. Depending on the size and type of housing unit, the LHA's wait me for
eligible households can be as much as 8 years.
The LHA routinely applies for State and Federal contributions for maintenance and
improvement of these housing units. However, Commonwealth contributions are
normally insufficient to meet annual needs. Use of Lexington's Community Preservation
Act or the Affordable Housing Trust to fund capital improvements that are eligible under
the statute allows the Town to keep existing units functional and in compliance with legal
standards.
With the help of the Affordable Housing Trust and the Cambridge Housing Authority, the
LHA has begun the work to maximize the utility of the single unit sites in its federal
housing portfolio by constructing Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU), as well as creating
multi -family housing and more affordable units. The AHT has projected that its
contribution to this initiative could be $1.25m.
The Lexington Housing Assistance Board (LexHAB) is unique to Lexington. The
nine -member board was created in 1983 by the Select Board (nee Selectmen), who
were concerned about the need for affordable and transitional housing for Lexington
residents experiencing economic difficulties. LexHAB currently owns and manages 86
affordable housing units and uses rents to maintain and improve the units as needed. In
2024, the State approved Lexington's Home Rule petition to separate from LexHAB,
and turn the entity into a 501-3(c). LexHAB has sought funding from both CPA and the
Affordable Housing Trust (AHT). In FY 2026, LexHAB received $494,140 to preserve 26
affordable units under ATM 2025, Article 10(g). This year, the board is seeking $395,355
to improve and maintain 31 units as well as subsidize temporarily the rent of their lowest
income tenants under Article 10(d).
For larger projects, LexHAB has relied on the AHT. In 2024 LexHAB used AHT funding
of $600,000 towards the acquisition of a 4 bedroom home and $550,000 toward the
acquisition of a 2 family home that would be low to moderate income housing into
perpetuity. In FY2025, the AHT granted LexHAB $1.1 m to purchase a 3 bedroom home
and construct an ADU. LexHAB is hoping to chosen to develop 6 units of affordable
47
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
housing at 116 Vine Street at an estimated cost of $6m, and has indicated it will seek
funding from the AHT if successful.
The Lexington Housing Partnership (LHP) is a nine -member board of Town residents
appointed by the Select Board to 3 -year terms. Its mission is to keep Lexington
residents informed of the Town's housing needs and to plan and advocate for the
preservation and creation of affordable housing in Lexington.
Lexington's Subsidized Housing Inventory (SHI) The housing units administered by
the LHA and those LexHAB units that have been assigned under the State's lottery
procedure all qualify on Lexington's SHI. Including all applicable rental units, as
permitted by statute, the Town's SHI stood at 11.07 %. However, as 75% of the Town's
SHI rental units are not actually deed -restricted, the true percentage of Lexington
housing units that are affordable to households below the area median income is closer
to 5%.
In order to support Lexington's SHI above the statutorily required 10%, the statute
provides any private developers who deed -restrict 25% of the units in their projects will
not be subject to the density restrictions of Lexington's zoning bylaws. This allows them
to build larger and more densely sited subdivisions than Lexington zoning would
otherwise allow.
Surcharge to Fund Affordable Housing. The fall 2020 STM -3 approved a citizen
petition to instruct the Select Board to establish a surcharge on specific residential
developments for the purpose of funding affordable and community housing
construction, renovation and associated land acquisitions or easements, and to
authorize the Select Board to petition the Massachusetts legislature to enact enabling
legislation for this purpose. The SB has done so and this petition is proceeding through
the State House legislation process.
Planning
The mission of the Planning Department is to provide technical and administrative
support to the Planning Board and various Boards and Commissions to implement the
community's long-term vision. The Planning Department is responsible for assistance in
the development of new zoning, advance planning, development review, public
information, and development compliance as permitted and conditioned by the Planning
Board.
Town Comprehensive Plan (LexingtonNext)
The Town Comprehensive plan guides the work of the Planning Department. The Plan
covers Land Use, Housing, Economic Development, Natural and Cultural Resources,
and Transportation. The current plan was adopted September 28, 2022.
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
TMOD Implementation -Permitting and Progress Tracking
The Traffic Management Overlay District (TMOD) to facilitate multi -modal transportation
networks and to improve traffic management and mitigation was approved in 2009, and
at the 2010 ATM the TMOD Stabilization Fund to receive mitigation payments from
commercial developers was created. Compiling the data from the TMOD developments
will help us evaluate the effectiveness of various transportation demand management
elements and inform us how to better improve the requirements. At the 2023 ATM
$42,000 from the TMOD Stabilization Fund was approved for a permitting and tracking
system to enable the compiling of these data. Regulations for this effort were passed in
September 2023 and implementation began in 2025, and is ongoing.
Transportation Mitigation
The Transportation Safety Group (TSG) is a working group appointed by the Town
Manager and consists of staff from the Planning Office, Engineering Division,
Transportation Services, and the School and Police Departments and is advised by
representatives from the Commission on Disability, Bicycle Advisory Committee,
Transportation Advisory Committee and Greenway Corridor Committee. The TSG
reviews traffic safety requests from residents and from various Town Departments and
provides the list of new sidewalk priories to DPW. TSG funds are used to evaluate
safety requests, conduct studies, and develop construction cost estimates for future
capital requests as well as fund the design/construction of smaller -scale,
safety-related, projects. Lexington receives an annual allotment from the Transportation
Network Companies (TNC) fund which collects fees from companies such as Uber and
Lyft. Starting in FY2021, the Town asked Town Meeting to allocate this allotment to the
TSG. See Article 12(a).
TSG Appropriation History (FY2022-FY2026)
Funding Source
FY2022
Budget
FY2023
Budget
FY2024
Budget
FY2025
Budget
FY2026
Budget
TNC Funds
$ 20,889
$ 6,824
$ 7,685
$ 13,234
$ 18,043
GF Free Cash
$ —
$ —
$ 80,0001$
86,766,$
61,957
Total
$ 20,889 $ 6,824 $ 87,685 $ 100,000 $ 80,000
Bedford St. and Hartwell Ave. Long Range Transportation Improvements
The 2019 Fall Special Town Meeting appropriated $1.5 million ($1,250,000 to be funded
by debt, and $250,000 to come from the TMOD Stabilization Fund) to develop the 25%
Design for improvements to Route 4/225 (Bedford Street/Hartwell Avenue), including the
"jug -handle" intersection. The project aims to create a complete street for vehicles,
pedestrians, and cyclists by widening Route 4/225, adjusting the intersection, and
adding pedestrian and bus stop facilities. This project will improve traffic safety, fix
09
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
choke points, provide safe pedestrian crossings and safe bus stops, expand our existing
pedestrian and bicycle network, and improve access to the Minuteman Bikeway. A
public meeting was held on Nov 16, 2023, and the consultant used the resulting
feedback to develop concept plans which the Select Board approved on February 2,
2025. The plans were then submitted to MassDOT review in late winter and early
spring. The FY2024 funding of $1.75 million provided an iterative funding step toward
the final PS&E (Plans, Specifications & Estimates). The project is being reconsidered for
the FY2027-FY2031 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). However, the Town's
expectation is that the State is unlikely to have sufficient funding to support any new
projects at that time due to the challenges municipalities are facing with project delays
and high construction costs. We currently anticipate being considered for the FY2028-
FY2032 TIP, with a construction funding request in 2032.
Planning 5 -Year Capital Appropriation History (All Sources)
50
FY2022
FY2023
FY2024
FY2025
FY2026
Hartwell Signage
$ —
$ 65,000
$ —
$ —
$ —
Transportation
Mitigation
$ 20,889
$ 181,824
$ 129,685
$ 100,000
$ 80,000
Totals
1 $ 20,8891$
246,8241$
129,6851$
100,0001$
80,000
50
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
2026 ATM Warrant -Article Explanations and
Recommendations
Citations of the "Town Warrant" refer to the "Town of Lexington Warrant Annual Town
Meeting 2026, February 2, 2026". Citations of the "Brown Book" refer to the "Town of
Lexington Fiscal Year 2027 Recommended Budget & Financing Plan" February 26,
2026. In this context, N/A stands for Not Applicable; IP stands for Indefinite
Postponement.
Article 7: Sustainable Projects
Amount Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
1 $463,000
Free Cash
6-0 approve
"This request is to install electric vehicle chargers in the Police Station garage for fleet
charging, including four Level 3 ports and four Level 2 ports, as well as a transformer
and sub -panel to connect the charger to a generator to ensure charging capability is not
lost in the event of a power outage. Installation of chargers at the station will enable the
department to continue moving towards an all -electric fleet."
(Brown Book XI -22)
These chargers will service the Town's police cruisers which need to be charged quickly
at shift change overs, Other more ad hoc needs for rapid charging may also arise. While
Level 3 chargers are more expensive than Level 2 chargers, they will provide a full
charge in roughly 30 minutes, rather than several hours by a Level 2 charger. It is clear
that the Town needs to have the ability to charge police cruisers in less than several
hours, necessitating the Level 3 chargers.
Article 10: Appropriate for the
FY2027 Community
Preservation Committee
Operating Budget and CPA
Projects
Amount Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
$8,495,355
CPA (Cash)
6-0 approve
(a) Document Conservation
Amount Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
$20,000
CPA (Cash)
6-0 approve
"This is an ongoing request to fund the conservation and preservation of historic
municipal documents and records and to make them available on the Town's digital
archives. This request will fund conservation and preservation of Police Department
Journal, Book 1, June 1923 to December 1925; Police Department Journal, Book 2,
January 1926 to July 1927; Marriage Intention Ledger, 1918-1923; Marriage Intention
Ledger, 1923-1927; Police Department Arrest Ledger No. 2, 1921-1926; Tax Collector's
Book, 1899"
(Brown Book XI -22)
51
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
(b) Munroe Center for the ArtsAmount
Cash Refinancing
Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
$2,000,000
CPA (Cash)
6-0 approve
"This request is to replace the debt financing for the Munroe Center for the Arts ADA
compliance and HVAC improvements with CPA cash. The 2023 Annual Town Meeting
(Art. 10b) originally authorized $2 million in debt financing for the project; however, the
projected FY2027 balance in the CPA fund is adequate to fund the remainder of the
project with cash financing. The debt authorization is anticipated to be rescinded in
conjunction with this funding request."
(Brown Book XI -23)
The CEC prefers that the CPC avoid debt funding whenever practicable; hence, we
support the CPC's decision to use additional Undesignated Fund cash monies to
replace previous debt appropriations for the Monroe Center renovation construction.
(c) Affordable Housing Trust
Funding
Amount Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
[!$3,200,000
CPA (Cash)
6-0 approve
"This request is to fund the Lexington AHT by providing seed money for affordable
housing and to allow the AHT greater flexibility in purchasing property and competing
with for-profit developers in the real estate market. See Appendix C for additional
information on the Affordable Housing Trust."
(Brown Book XI -23)
The committee supports the CPA's recommendation to provide $3.2 million funding to
the AHT in FY2027 as there were no other competing projects for CPF funds.
(d) LexHAB Affordable
Housing Support,
Restoration and Preservation
Amount Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
$395,355
CPA (Cash)
6-0 approve
"This FY2027 request seeks funding for the preservation, rehabilitation, and restoration
of several Lexington Housing Assistance Board (LexHAB) affordable housing units. The
scope of the work at these units varies by property. There will be preservation,
rehabilitation, and restoration projects at eight units which were acquired with CPA funds
and there will be preservation projects at 23 LexHAB units that were not acquired with
CPA funds. The request also includes funding to subsidize the rents of LexHAB's lowest
income tenants."
(Brown Book XI -23)
(e) Park Improvements -Mount
Athletic Fields - Harrington:
Phase 2
Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
$2,630,000
CPA (Cash)
6-0 approve
"This request is for the third phase of a multi -phase project to construct new natural
grass athletic fields at 146 Maple Street, the former location of the LPS Central
Administration Office building. Schematic design funding for this project was approved
at the Fall 2024 Special Town Meeting ($100,000). The 2025 Annual Town Meeting
52
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
appropriated funding to demolish the School Central Administration building at this site,
which will take place in early 2026. The 2025 Annual Town Meeting also appropriated
$1,197,904 of CPA funds for design, engineering, construction documents, and site
work for the project. This FY2027 request will fund the remaining construction cost for
the fields."
(Brown Book XI -17)
(f) Playground Infrastructure
Upgrades
unt Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
17$100,000
CPA (Cash)
6-0 approve
"This project is to install playground fencing structures at Bridge Elementary School and
Fiske Elementary School. The current lack of fencing creates safety concerns for staff
and students; the proposed playground improvements will allow school playground
aides to maintain a perimeter to keep students safe, and will comply with recommended
safety and accessibility standards."
(Brown Book XI -16)
(g) Administrative Budget
Amount Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
$150,000
CPA (Cash)
6-0 approve
These funds are used for operating, Coalition dues and fees, administrative, appraisal,
legal, and miscellaneous expenses.
Article 11: Appropriate for
Recreation Capital Projects
Amount Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
$190,000
Recreation RE
6-0 approve
(a) Pine Meadows Equipment
Amount Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
[!$60,000 Recreation RE
6-0 approve
"This is an ongoing program to purchase and replace equipment at the Pine Meadows
Golf Course. The FY2027 request is to purchase a new sprayer and a new fairway
aerator replacing the 2006 Toro fairway aerator. The life expectancy of a fairway aerator
and a sprayer is approximately twelve years."
(Brown Book XI -17)
(b) Pine Meadows
Improvements
Amount Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
$130,000 Recreation RE
6-0 approve
"This is an ongoing program to implement improvements at the Pine Meadows Golf
Course. The FY2027 request is to reshape the second green and bunker (which will
involve stripping the sod, shaping the green, and replacing the sod from the nursery),
extend the third fairway to the left and install irrigation, and complete an as -built
irrigation and drainage plan."
(Brown Book XI -17)
53
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
Article 12: Appropriate for
Municipal Capital Projects
and Equipment
Amount Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
$11,669,235
See Below
6-0 approve
(a) Transportation Mitigation
Amount Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
$80,000
$57,050 Free
Cash; $22,950
TNC
6-0 approve
"This annual capital request is to support the ongoing work of the Transportation Safety
Group (TSG). The TSG is staffed by the Planning, Engineering, School and Police
departments. Between FY2008 and FY2011, Town Meeting appropriated funds to collect
data, perform analysis, review citizen requests and recommendations for various
Townwide transportation improvements in support of the Traffic Mitigation Group
(dissolved in 2012 and later reconstituted as the TSG). Anticipated projects for FY2027
include continued implementation of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, design work to
access MassDOT grant opportunities, and engineering services to address safety
requests and conduct speed surveys."
(Brown Book XI -16)
(b) Bicycle -Pedestrian Plan
Implementation (MMBW to
LHS)
Amount Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
$180,000
Free Cash
6-0 approve
"This request is to support design of a designated bicycle and pedestrian access
between the Minuteman Bikeway (MMBW) and Lexington High School (LHS). Identified
as a high priority of the recently completed Town -wide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, this
project will focus on gathering public input and assessing safety concerns. The project
outcome expects to identify and design to the 25% level a pedestrian and bicycle route
from the MMBW through the Center to the LHS and from the MMBW across Bedford
Street to LHS."
(Brown Book XI -15)
(c) Townwide Bicycle-
Pedestrian Plan
Implementation
Amount Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
$100,000
Free Cash
6-0 approve
"This request is to support design and construction of key safety improvements
identified as priorities in the 2024 Town -Wide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. Potential
projects include multi -use side paths on Worthen Road from Mass Ave. to Waltham St.,
safety improvements on Mass. Ave. in East Lexington, trail improvements, and
crosswalks, side paths, bike lanes, and intersection improvements at various locations."
(Brown Book XI -17)
(d) Fire Ladder Truck
unt Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
7$2,500,000
General Fund
Debt
6-0 approve
"This request is to replace the fire department's 2017 aerial ladder truck. The useful life
of a ladder truck is approximately twenty years, with ten years as a frontline vehicle, and
54
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
another ten years as a reserve. The department's current ladder truck will be moved to
reserve. Due long lead times (up to 48 months) for ordering fire vehicles, the truck is not
expected to be delivered for several years. Financing and debt service will not occur
until the vehicle is delivered, which will not be until at least FY2028, but likely later. The
timing of debt service projections will be updated annually based on the expected
delivery date."
(Brown Book XI -6)
"This is an annual request to replace equipment that is beyond its useful life
and whose mechanical condition no longer meets the requirements of the Department
of Public Works (DPW). The DPW has an inventory of 146 pieces of equipment
including sedans, hybrid SUVs, construction vehicles and specialized equipment used
to mow parks, plow snow, repair streets, and complete a variety of other projects.
Without regular equipment replacement, the efficiency and cost effectiveness of the
DPW's operations would be handicapped due to equipment down time and excessive
repair costs.
Each piece of equipment is inventoried with original and current replacement cost, state
of condition and replacement time interval. Replacement intervals vary from 5 to 20
years and are based on manufacturer recommendations and type and duration of use.
The selection of vehicles to be replaced begins with the proposed replacement date.
Each vehicle is then assessed as to its mechanical condition and work requirements.
The systematic replacement program defines what equipment is expected to need
replacement during the next five years with the intent of preventing any unexpected
emergency purchases. Annual updates are conducted by the Equipment Maintenance
Division, Division Superintendents and reviewed by the Manager of Operations and
Director of Public Works.
The FY2027 request, by funding source, is shown in the table below.
55
Amount Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
$1,550,000 Free
Cash; $150,000
(e) Equipment Replacement
$1,700,000
Water RE
6-0 approve
"This is an annual request to replace equipment that is beyond its useful life
and whose mechanical condition no longer meets the requirements of the Department
of Public Works (DPW). The DPW has an inventory of 146 pieces of equipment
including sedans, hybrid SUVs, construction vehicles and specialized equipment used
to mow parks, plow snow, repair streets, and complete a variety of other projects.
Without regular equipment replacement, the efficiency and cost effectiveness of the
DPW's operations would be handicapped due to equipment down time and excessive
repair costs.
Each piece of equipment is inventoried with original and current replacement cost, state
of condition and replacement time interval. Replacement intervals vary from 5 to 20
years and are based on manufacturer recommendations and type and duration of use.
The selection of vehicles to be replaced begins with the proposed replacement date.
Each vehicle is then assessed as to its mechanical condition and work requirements.
The systematic replacement program defines what equipment is expected to need
replacement during the next five years with the intent of preventing any unexpected
emergency purchases. Annual updates are conducted by the Equipment Maintenance
Division, Division Superintendents and reviewed by the Manager of Operations and
Director of Public Works.
The FY2027 request, by funding source, is shown in the table below.
55
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
Equipment
Free Cash
Water RE
Total
Utility Truck
Free Cash
$ 150,000
$ 150,000
Asphalt Roller
$ 125,000
Spring St. (Hayden Ave. to Rt. 2 Bridge)
$ 125,000
Dump Truck with Plow
$ 400,000
Hampton Rd.
$ 400,000
Floor Sweeper
$ 165,000
4 Plymouth Rd.
$ 165,000
Front End Loader
$ 275,000
$ 275,000
Compact John Deere Tractor
$ 125,000
$ 125,000
John Deere Tractor
$ 150,000
$ 150,000
Small Front Loader with Blower
$ 135,000
$ 135,000
Wacker Sidewalk Machine
$ 175,000
$ 175,000
$ 1,550,000
$ 150,000
$ 1,700,000
(Brown Book XI -18)
(f) Sidewalk Improvements
Amount Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
$820,000
Free Cash
6-0 approve
"This request is to rebuild and/or repair existing sidewalks that are in poor condition,
measured in linear feet (LF). DPW, in conjunction with various committees and other
town departments, will generate a list each year of the sidewalks most in need of repair/
replacement based on four determining factors:
i. Is the sidewalk unsafe for travel due to trip hazards, defects, etc.
ii. Is the sidewalk within the Safe Routes to School Program
iii. Is the volume of pedestrian traffic heavy, light or average
iv. Is the general condition of the sidewalk poor, fair or good, which dictates
treatments such as full reconstruction, overlay or patching
DPW currently reviews 30% of sidewalks annually to identify the work to be done.
Sidewalks considered for FY2027 funding include:
Elena Rd.
700 LF Asphalt
Birch Hill Lane
900 LF Asphalt
Pheasant Lane
1000 LF Asphalt
Phinney Rd.
1400 LF Asphalt
Tufts Rd. (Phinney to Marrett)
550 LF Asphalt
Spring St. (Hayden Ave. to Rt. 2 Bridge)
300 LF Asphalt
Spring St.
600 LF Asphalt
Hampton Rd.
450 LF Asphalt
Kitson Park Dr.
600 LF Asphalt
4 Plymouth Rd.
185 LF Concrete
Mass Ave (133-121 Bow Street)
80 LF Concrete
56
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
The following table presents the recent history of Sidewalk appropriations:
FY2020
FY2021
FY2022
FY2023
FY2024
I FY2025
I FY2026
$ 800,000
$ 800,000
$ 800,000
$ 800,000
$ 800,0001$
800,0001$
870,000
(Brown Book XI -18)
"This is an ongoing replacement program designed to maintain the integrity of the fire
protection system throughout town. Faulty hydrants need to be replaced to meet safety
requirements. A list of hydrants needing replacement is generated each year during the
annual inspection and flushing of hydrants by the Water and Fire Departments. The
Town of Lexington has 1,747 fire hydrants in its fire protection system and the goal is to
replace approximately 45 hydrants per year at a cost of $3,700 per hydrant, with labor
covered by the operating budget. The expected life of a hydrant is 50 years."
(Brown Book XI -19)
(h) Street Improvements
Amount Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
[!$2,746,777
$75,000 Free
6-0 approve
Cash; $75,000
(g) Hydrant Replacement
$150,000
Water RE
6-0 approve
"This is an ongoing replacement program designed to maintain the integrity of the fire
protection system throughout town. Faulty hydrants need to be replaced to meet safety
requirements. A list of hydrants needing replacement is generated each year during the
annual inspection and flushing of hydrants by the Water and Fire Departments. The
Town of Lexington has 1,747 fire hydrants in its fire protection system and the goal is to
replace approximately 45 hydrants per year at a cost of $3,700 per hydrant, with labor
covered by the operating budget. The expected life of a hydrant is 50 years."
(Brown Book XI -19)
(h) Street Improvements
Amount Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
[!$2,746,777
Free Cash
6-0 approve
"This is an annual request for the street resurfacing and maintenance program that
improves and repairs Lexington's streets and sidewalks, increasing their quality and
safety. In addition to the $2,746,777 appropriated from the tax levy, $1,768,022 of
Chapter 90 State Aid funds will be utilized, which does not require a Town Meeting
appropriation. Funds will be used for design, inspections, planning, repair, patching,
crack sealing and construction of roadways and roadway related infrastructure including
repair and installation of sidewalks. A pavement management system is utilized to assist
in analyzing the road network and selecting roadways for repairs. Streets that are
candidates for completion include Valleyfield Street, Grassland Street, Philbrook
Terrace, Bridge Street, Payson Street, Vine Street, Manley Court, Adams Street (East to
North), Howard Munroe Place, and Waltham Street (Brookside to Blossomcrest).
57
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
Street Improvements - Financing Components
FY27
2001 Override Increased by 2.5% per year $
Maintenance of unallocated revenue from FY2012 Revenue Allocation Model $
Maintenance of unallocated revenue from FY2013 Revenue Allocation Model $
FY2014 Health Insurance Savings $
Additional Tax Levy Funding $
Estimated Chapter 90 Aid
(Brown Book XI -19)
818,822
281,234
164,850
1,100,000
381,871
1,768,022
Total $ 4,514,799
Without Chapter 90 $ 2,746,777
(i) Stormwater Management
Program
Amount Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
[!$2,665,000
Free Cash
6-0 approve
"This program was created in FY2025 to combine three former programs - Townwide
Culvert Replacement, Storm Drain Improvements and NPDES Compliance, and
Comprehensive Stormwater Management - into one annual stormwater management
request. One combined project creates flexibility and agility for the Department for the
improvements of stormwater throughout Lexington. The aggregated funding will be
utilized for supporting the National Pollutant Discharge and Elimination System
(NPDES) program with an emphasis on Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
(IDDE) and nutrient removal which are both required by the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) Municipal Separated Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit. These
regulations are focused around improving water quality. Additionally, this request will
support the stream management plan, culvert replacement and rehabilitation program,
and storm drain improvements to mitigate flooding. In FY2027 work will continue on
MS4 compliance, and may include phosphorus removal, drainage investigations, and
drainage improvements."
(Brown Book XI -20)
0) DPW Building Floor
Repairs
Amount Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
$220,000
Free Cash
6-0 approve
"This request is for funding to repair and reseal the vehicle staging and prep area floors
and the mechanics bays floors at the Public Services Building. Repairs are needed in
order to provide a floor surface that allows for heavy truck traffic without deteriorating
and provides a non -slip surface for employee foot traffic. The floors are in constant use
and need to be properly maintained to accommodate equipment and safe operations."
(Brown Book XI -21)
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
(k) Burlington & North Streets
Sidewalk
Amount Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
1 $60,000
Free Cash
6-0 approve
"This request is funding for a pre -design alternatives analysis of the new sidewalk
proposal at Burlington & North Streets. The design process will consider alternative
options to a full sidewalk installation, which may include no sidewalk, partial sidewalk,
pavement markings and one-way alternatives. New sidewalk requests are submitted to
the Transportation Safety Group (TSG) through resident petitions, which are evaluated
and prioritized by TSG and forwarded to Engineering for design and construction. The
last roadways from that list are the Burlington Street and North Street sidewalks. Survey
funds for these sidewalks were requested in FY2026, and FY2027 funding is being
requested for the pre -design alternatives analysis. Staff anticipate that a future request
for design and land acquisition would be required to move this project forward, and
construction funding would be requested at a future Town Meeting. Current estimates
for land acquisition and construction are approximately $5.4 million."
(Brown Book XI -21)
(1) Intersection ImprovementsAmount
- Adams St at East St. and
Hancock St.
Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
IP
N/A
6-0 Indefinite
Postponement
This article is recommended to be Indefinitely Postponed.
(m) Hartwell Training FacilityAmount
Paving
Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
$67,458 Free Cash
6-0 approve
"This project proposes grading and asphalt paving of the existing outdoor Lexington
Police Department's Firing Range Facility located at the 60 Hartwell Avenue compost
facility. The project will replace the current dirt and rock range surface with a properly
graded and paved asphalt surface, enhancing safety, usability and maintenance
efficiency. A smooth, level asphalt surface will eliminate tripping hazards, loose debris,
and uneven terrain, providing a safer environment for officers during dynamic training
exercises involving movement, sprinting and tactical drills."
(Brown Book XI -21)
(n) Municipal Technology
Improvement Program
Amount Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
$145,000 Free Cash
6-0 approve
"This capital program funds major municipal technology improvements including
servers, Storage Area Network (SAN)/data arrays and other critical Town hardware and
components, including audio-visual systems and equipment. New infrastructure and
equipment is obtained with a focus to achieve technical consolidation, energy savings,
reduction in financial burdens and reduction in staff maintenance time while increasing
management efficiencies, increasing reliability, and introducing new capabilities.
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
The FY2027 request will fund the replacement of the video broadcast system in Battin
Hall at the Cary Memorial Building. This purchase will support the many events that take
place in the event space and ensure a high quality level of service to the community and
staff."
(Brown Book XI -22)
This item had originally planned to seek $175,000 for a Storage Array Network (SAN)
replacement, and $95,000 for a Pit Pipe winch system in Battin Hall, but these were
deferred during budget planning.
(o) Application
Implementation
Amount Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
$115,000 Free Cash
6-0 approve
"This request is to fund the initial purchase and implementation of a new Cashiering
Module for the Finance Department and residents of Lexington. The software will
replace existing online payment centers Invoice Cloud and UniPay for real estate, water/
sewer bills, and motor vehicle excise tax billing. This will benefit taxpayers by providing
a more modern payment experience and real-time updates to customer accounts as the
platform integrates with the Town's general ledger accounting system. The advanced
point-of-sale cashiering module will allow for credit card payments at the Treasurer's
counter, barcoded bills, check scanning, online donations, and other miscellaneous
billing. This system will also benefit staff by eliminating manual keying, processing and
reconciliation steps between software programs, improving efficiency and processing
time. Upgrading this cashiering system may eliminate the need for additional Treasury
staff as the Town considers new revenue streams and transitions to a quarterly utility
billing process."
(Brown Book XI -22)
(p) Network Technology
Improvements
Amount Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
$120,000 Free Cash
6-0 approve
"This request includes funding for the replacement of approximately 100 end -of -life
access points and the procurement of a management application necessary for the
operation of the new models. The units are approaching end -of -life (EOL) and will no
longer receive any support in terms of security updates. If unsupported, this will
increase the risk of a security breach as unsupported hardware are common targets for
a cyber -attack."
(Brown Book XI -22)
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
"This is an annual program that replaces unlined, inadequate, aged and vulnerable
water mains, deteriorated service connections and eliminates dead ends in the water
mains. The Town completed a hydraulic model for the entire distribution network and an
asset management plan for replacing the Town's aging water infrastructure that will
ensure a proactive approach for keeping Lexington's water both safe and reliable. The
model identifies areas of vulnerability, water main aging, and those areas with low
volumes and pressures. The asset management plan recommends replacing 1% of our
water mains on an annual basis.
Beginning in FY2021, the funding source for this ongoing capital replacement program
has been gradually shifting to Water user charges, with the ultimate goal of transitioning
the entire program to cash funding over 11 years. While rate payers may pay slightly
higher water rates in the short-term, significant debt service savings will be realized,
resulting in lower overall costs in the long-term. This is the seventh year of transition
and $1,400,000 is being requested from water user fees.
Prior authorizations funded recent replacements on Eldred Street and Lowell Street, and
contributed to a joint project with the Town of Burlington and the Massachusetts Water
Resource Authority to complete a high-priority replacement along Lowell Street and
North Street."
(Brown Book XI -20)
Amount Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
$1,400,000
Water User
Wastewater
Article 14: Appropriate for
Charges;
User Charges;
Article 13: Appropriate for
Wastewater System
$981,639 Water
$604,080 Sewer
Water System Improvements
1 $2,381,639
1 RE
6-0 approve
"This is an annual program that replaces unlined, inadequate, aged and vulnerable
water mains, deteriorated service connections and eliminates dead ends in the water
mains. The Town completed a hydraulic model for the entire distribution network and an
asset management plan for replacing the Town's aging water infrastructure that will
ensure a proactive approach for keeping Lexington's water both safe and reliable. The
model identifies areas of vulnerability, water main aging, and those areas with low
volumes and pressures. The asset management plan recommends replacing 1% of our
water mains on an annual basis.
Beginning in FY2021, the funding source for this ongoing capital replacement program
has been gradually shifting to Water user charges, with the ultimate goal of transitioning
the entire program to cash funding over 11 years. While rate payers may pay slightly
higher water rates in the short-term, significant debt service savings will be realized,
resulting in lower overall costs in the long-term. This is the seventh year of transition
and $1,400,000 is being requested from water user fees.
Prior authorizations funded recent replacements on Eldred Street and Lowell Street, and
contributed to a joint project with the Town of Burlington and the Massachusetts Water
Resource Authority to complete a high-priority replacement along Lowell Street and
North Street."
(Brown Book XI -20)
"This annual program provides for rehabilitation of sanitary sewer infrastructure. The
Town's sanitary sewer infrastructure is made up of approximately 176 miles of main line,
8.5 miles of force main and 5,280 manholes. Work will include replacement or repair of
deteriorated sewers, force mains, and manholes in order to improve flow and reduce
inflow and infiltration into the system. Engineering investigation and evaluation will
continue on sewers throughout town, including those in remote, hard to access areas.
These capital investments improve the operation of the sewer system, reduce backups
61
Amount Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
$700,000
Wastewater
Article 14: Appropriate for
User Charges;
Wastewater System
$604,080 Sewer
Improvements
$1,304,080
RE
6-0 approve
Amount Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
$700,000
(a) Sanitary Sewer System
Investigation and
Improvements
$1,104,080
Wastewater
User Fees;
$404,080 Sewer
Debt
6-0 approve
"This annual program provides for rehabilitation of sanitary sewer infrastructure. The
Town's sanitary sewer infrastructure is made up of approximately 176 miles of main line,
8.5 miles of force main and 5,280 manholes. Work will include replacement or repair of
deteriorated sewers, force mains, and manholes in order to improve flow and reduce
inflow and infiltration into the system. Engineering investigation and evaluation will
continue on sewers throughout town, including those in remote, hard to access areas.
These capital investments improve the operation of the sewer system, reduce backups
61
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
and potential overflows, prevent system malfunctions, and reduce the measured flows
through the MWRA meter.
Beginning in FY2021, the funding source for this ongoing capital replacement program
has been gradually shifting to Wastewater user charges, with the ultimate goal of
transitioning the entire program to cash funding over 10 years. This is the seventh year
of transition and $700,000 is being requested from user fees."
(Brown Book XI -7)
(b) Pump Station Building
Improvements
Amount Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
$200,000
Sewer RE
6-0 approve
"This is an annual request to provide building, safety, and equipment improvements at
the Town's ten wastewater pump stations. The FY2027 funding will replace HVAC and
electrical systems at the main pump station. Maintaining HVAC and electrical systems in
pump stations is crucial for ensuring efficiency, reducing downtime, preventing sewer
discharges, and mitigating future capital costs."
(Brown Book XI -20)
School Capital Projects and
Article 15: Appropriate for17$1,425,657
Equipment
unt Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
Free Cash
6-0 approve
"This request addresses the District's strategic goal for enhancing the capacity to utilize
technology as an instructional and administrative tool. The request will continue to
support student access to devices to allow for innovative learning methods that integrate
supportive technologies, problem -based approaches and higher order thinking skills. It
also maintains and improves, when needed, current infrastructure such as networks,
access points and servers. The capital improvement request for FY2027 would provide
funding for the following:
Tech Workstations: $220,050 is requested for this category of the capital project.
Replace Unit A (all classroom teachers, counselors, librarians and staff working under
the teacher contract; Unit A) workstations and peripheral devices (laptops, desktops,
printers and monitors). Prices have remained relatively stable for all devices in this
category (170 laptops @$1,150 each, 10 printers @ $355 each, 15 monitors @$300
each, 15 workstations at $1,100 each).
PreK-5 Mobile Devices: $104,000 is requested to replace end -of -life iPads across all
district Kindergarten classes (260 iPads @ $400 each).
1:1 Middle School Program: $251,428 is requested to fund 500 Chromebooks for 6th
graders entering Diamond and Clark Middle Schools. All middle school students have
1:1 devices and the devices follow them through middle school (three year life span).
Generally, by the end of middle school, many devices have reached their end of life due
to use. These Chromebooks are more expensive than the high school devices due to
Z
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
their having dual cameras and touch screens. (526 Chromebooks @ $478 each). The
previous model has been discontinued, and the newer model is more expensive.
1:1 at Lexington High School: $246,768 is requested to purchase 636 Chromebooks for
9th graders. All high school students, once provided a device in 9th grade or upon
entering the high school, have the device through their senior year (four-year life span),
(636 Chromebooks @ $388 each).
Science/Technology/Engineering/(Art)/Math (STEM/STEAM)/Computer Science:
$12,500 is requested to update computer labs at the High School level and purchase
STEM/STEAM based curricular materials. The high school lab equipment will be
updated (5 replacement lab computers at $1,300, and $6,000 for STEM/STEAM
Materials). Digital Learning Coaches (DLCs) work with all department heads that are
holding curriculum reviews. The small amount of money allocated for STEM/STEAM
may result in equipment being piloted or may also replace some equipment currently
being used (elementary small robots for coding, etc.).
Interactive Projectors/Whiteboard Units and Document Cameras: $135,861 is requested
for this category of the capital project.
• Replace 37 interactive projectors districtwide. This equips buildings with a touch -
activated, interactive system and soundbar. The replacements will begin with the
oldest model per school until all systems are within a 7 year window with all of the
same functionality (37 projectors @ $3,553 each).
• The request will also replace 5 document cameras districtwide. All elementary
schools have had document cameras replaced, and upgrades have been made in
many middle school classrooms as well. (5 document cameras @ $880 each).
District and Building Network Infrastructure: $435,050 is requested to replace end of life
Wireless Access Points (WAPs) at both middle schools and switches across all
elementary schools. This is a phased project and WAPs will be replaced in all
elementary schools in subsequent years. Due to the impending high school building
project and a final determination for the current Central Office, WAPs and cabling for
those sites have been deferred. The current five year capital submission also includes
anticipated costs for future replacement of the district's core and firewalls with the
building of a new high school and possible relocation of Central Office.
Server/Storage Infrastructure: $20,000 is requested to maintain and upgrade any server
related hardware."
(Brown Book XI -14)
63
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
Article 16: Appropriate PublicAmount
Facilities Capital Projects
Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
$5,801,720 See Below
See Below
(a) Public Facilities Bid
Documents
Amount Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
$125,000 Free Cash
6-0 approve
"This is an annual request for funding professional services to produce design
development, construction documents and/or bid administration services for smaller
projects in anticipation of requests for construction funding at town meeting that have a
high probability of approval. This will ensure that both municipal and school projects can
be completed in the then -current construction season, which is particularly important for
the timely completion of school building projects given the short window between the
end of school in June and the end of summer. There has been a steady uptick in the
number of projects requiring these services in recent years."
(Brown Book XI -15)
(b) Public Facilities Interior
Finishes
Amount Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
$486,720
Free Cash
6-0 approve
"Initiated in FY2011, this is an annual request for funds to be used for the replacement
of flooring systems in municipal and school buildings and interior finishes including mill
work, ceiling work, tile work, countertop replacement and bathroom finishes. The goal of
this annual program is to ensure failing systems are replaced and are safe for all users.
The FY2027 request will allow the Department of Public Facilities to complete
approximately four classroom flooring systems in six school buildings and prioritize
other floors requiring attention. This request may also cover other building finishes,
based on priority. Projects recently completed include replacement of flooring in
classrooms at Clarke Middle School, three elementary school main offices, and the
Lexington Community Center."
(Brown Book XI -15)
(c) School Paving and
Sidewalks
Amount Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
$225,000
Free Cash
6-0 approve
"This capital request provides as needed replacement of sidewalks, hardscape for
playgrounds, bus loops, and parking areas on school grounds. Extraordinary repairs for
school paving areas are necessary to maintain parking and pedestrian surfaces in a
condition suitable for public safety and highlights the Safe Routes to School program.
Projects recently completed include the full driveway and sidewalk replacement at
Diamond Middle School. The FY2027 request will fund paving and sidewalk
replacements at Fiske Elementary School."
(Brown Book XI -13)
Ell
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
"This project is an annual replacement of Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing systems
that have exceeded their useful life and require replacement before catastrophic failures
occur. Systems needing replacement or repair are identified and prioritized in the 20 -
year Capital Plan. The plan identifies significant projects that are coming due in the next
5 years, there are a significant amount of investments needed during this time period.
The FY2027 request will fund the replacement of energy recovery units at Fiske
Elementary School."
(Brown Book XI -16)
(e) LHS Emergency
Equipment Funds
Amount Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
$400,000
$4,083,459 Free
6-0 approve
$ 44,840
16H
Cash; $242,332
Hill Street New Sidewalk
(d) Public Facilities
12F
Tax Levy;
Equipment Replacement
Mechanical/Electrical/
10B
$239,209 PY
I Munroe Center for the Arts
Plumbing Replacements
$4,565,000
1 Bonds
6-0 approve
"This project is an annual replacement of Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing systems
that have exceeded their useful life and require replacement before catastrophic failures
occur. Systems needing replacement or repair are identified and prioritized in the 20 -
year Capital Plan. The plan identifies significant projects that are coming due in the next
5 years, there are a significant amount of investments needed during this time period.
The FY2027 request will fund the replacement of energy recovery units at Fiske
Elementary School."
(Brown Book XI -16)
(e) LHS Emergency
Equipment Funds
Amount Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
$400,000
Free Cash
6-0 approve
"This request is to provide funding for emergency needs, including major equipment
failure, related to the existing Lexington High School building, until the time it is replaced
by the new building. The 2022 Annual Town Meeting approved $500,000 in funds for the
same purpose; and over the last several years these funds have been utilized for a
variety of repairs. As of January 2026, about $90,000 in funds remain and this request
will replenish the fund. The existing building will be utilized until the end of the
school year in Spring of 2029, and demolition of the building is in Summer 2029."
(Brown Book XI -16)
Article 18: Rescind Prior
Borrowing Authorizations
unt Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
r7$2,624,850
Pending
General Fund
6-0 approve
The following unused borrowing authorities are recommended to be rescinded due to
project completion:
Article
Town Meeting
Project Description
Amount to be Rescinded
10H
2018 ATM
Center Track & Field Reconstruction
$ 44,840
16H
2019 ATM
Hill Street New Sidewalk
$ 389,310
12F
2020 ATM
Equipment Replacement
$ 190,700
10B
2023 ATM
I Munroe Center for the Arts
$ 2,000,000
In the case of the Munroe Center for the Arts, the Community Preservation Committee is
recommending that the previously approved $2M borrowing authorization be rescinded
as funds are sufficient to pay the remaining project costs in cash (see Article 10b for
coordinating request).
(As identified by the Town Finance Department)
65
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
Article 19: Establish, Amend,
unt Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
Dissolve and Appropriate To
CSF
5-0 approve
and From Specified
Stabilization Funds (SFs)
Amount Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
Capital SF
(a) Appropriate to Capital
Stabilization Fund
$6,580,908
Tax Levy
6-0 approve
(b) Appropriate from Capital
Stabilization Fund
$800,000
CSF
5-0 approve
"$6,580,908 be dedicated from the Tax Levy for appropriation into the Capital
Stabilization Fund to offset the taxpayer impact of the planned Lexington High School
construction project."
(Brown Book i)
"In FY2027, $800,000 is requested to be appropriated from the Capital Stabilization
Fund for debt service tax mitigation for the LHS project."
(Brown Book x)
Transportation Demand
(c) Appropriate toA7$781,191
Management Fund
unt Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
$11,789
CSF
5-0 approve
Article 19(c) seeks to appropriate $781,191.25 from the Transportation Management
Overlay District (TMOD) Special Revenue Fund to the TMOD Stabilization Fund.
(d -e) Appropriate to
Affordable Housing Trust etc.
Amount Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
$11,789
Aff. Housing
Stab. Fund
5-0 approve
Article 19(d) seeks to appropriate $11,789.09 from the Affordable Housing Stabilization
Fund to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund; Article 19(e) seeks to direct all future
Community Impact Fees received from short-term rentals to the Affordable Housing
Trust Fund; and Article 19(f) seeks to subsequently dissolve the Affordable Housing
Stabilization Fund. This action is allowed under the Municipal Modernization Act which
allows the dedication of certain revenue streams into stabilization funds by vote of town
meeting.
Article 21: Appropriate forAmount
Authorized Capital
Improvements
Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
N/A
N/A
6-0 indefinite
postponement
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
Article 23: Appropriate for
Trash/Recycling Carts
Amount Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
[!$1,204,000
Free Cash
6-0 approve
"Plans are underway to migrate from the Town's current manual refuse and recycling
collection program to an automated system. This request will fund the purchase of
11,000 trash and 11,000 recycling carts to be distributed to all customers that participate
in municipal trash collection. These carts will allow for automated curbside pickup of
trash and recycling which is planned to begin in Summer 2027."
(Brown Book XI -21)
Article 26: Oversee FinancialAmount
Expenditures LHS Project
Citizen Petition
Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
TBD
N/A
6-0 disapprove
The Committee appreciates the work the proponents have put into this article, and
believes the objectives are worthwhile. However, this article requests that the Town
undertake efforts that are already being taken. In particular, there is a new SBC
subcommittee, made up of Lexington citizens, that is charged with the activities
envisioned by this article. Additionally, these actions are a fundamental portion of the
work of the Permanent Building Committee, and the staff.
Therefore the Committee is unanimous in support of disapproval.
Article 27: Procurement for
Online Capital Project
Platform Citizen Petition
Amount Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
$50,000
TBD
6-0 disapprove
The Committee appreciates the work the proponents have put into this article, and
believes the objectives are worthwhile. However, the article requests that the town
undertake efforts that are largely already being taken. The Department of Facilities is
building a transparency dashboard for the LHS High School project, and has indicated it
is fully open to citizen input into the data it will provide. We hope this dashboard will
prove to be a useful pilot to guide future transparency efforts on other large capital
projects.
While several candidate software packages have been identified (e.g. Tyler Enterprise
ERP which reportedly comes in under the $50,000 requested), and several websites
from other towns have been suggested as examples, it seems none of them provide all
of the information this article specifies. Despite cost estimates that have been
suggested, our understanding is that the funding request may not be sufficient to
acquire and integrate a suitable software system into the Town's financial system, and
does not mention this will likely require an ongoing annual contract (e.g. an estimated
$35,000 per year for the Tyler package). Finally, we would like to see an allowance for
Town Manager flexibility to decide which supporting data are needed and reasonably
available given staff time requirements to implement.
67
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
We believe the Town will make a good faith effort to provide as much of this data, and
keep it updated as often, as practicable. As the Town gains experience this effort can be
expanded to additional projects.
Therefore the Committee is unanimous in support of disapproval.
Article 28: Speed Humps -Amount
Walnut Street (Citizen
Petition
Requested
Funding Source
Committee Recommends
TBD
TBD
6-0 disapprove
The Committee appreciates the work the proponents have put into this article, and
recognizes the need for traffic calming on this street. However, given the reasoned
concerns over vertical speed elements provided by the Fire Chief, and the efforts
already moving forward to modify Walnut Street by adding other types of traffic calming
elements, the Committee is unanimous in support of disapproval.
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
Appendix A: Information on the Town's Current Specified Stabilization
Funds
Specialized Stabilization Funds
Ending balances as of fiscal year end
FY2022
FY2023
FY2024
FY2025
Transportation Demand Management
$ 913,691
$ 909,719
$ 996,118
$ 1,241,265
Traffic Mitigation Stabilization Fund
$ 648,157
$ 433,291
$ 591,739
$ 619,477
Special Education Stabilization Fund
$ 656,485
$ 683,122
$ 1,232,548
$ 1,293,459
Capital Stabilization Fund
$ 21,730,961
$ 27,330,886
$ 32,769,537
$ 42,670,751
Center Improvement Stabilization Fund
$ 10,410
$ 10,833
$ 11,451
$ 12,017
TMOD Stabilization Fund
$ 100,406
$ 154,673
$ 380,141
$ 406,164
Debt Stabilization Fund
$ 191,607
$ —
$ —
$ —
Visitors Center Stabilization Fund
$ 240,006
$ 249,256
$ 213,279
$ 173,730
Affordable Housing Capital Stabilization Fund
$ 310,366.$
445,174.$
14,003.$
14,118
Water System Capital Stabilization Fund
$ 287,242
$ 366,056
$ 441,0871$
518,900
Ambulance Stabilization Fund
$ —
$ 250,0001$
250,0001$
125,000
See Brown Book C-3
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
Appendix B: Acronyms Used
ADA
Americans With Disabilities Act
AHT
Affordable Housing Trust
AP
Access Point
ARPA
American Rescue Plan Act
ATM
Annual Town Meeting
BAN
Bond Anticipation Note
CEC
Capital Expenditures Committee
CP
Capital Plan
CPA
Community Preservation Act
CPATF
Community Preservation Act Trust Fund
CPC
Community Preservation Committee
CPF
Community Preservation Fund
CSF
Capital Stabilization Fund
DESE
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
DLC
Digital Learning Coaches
DPF
Department of Public Facilities
DPW
Department of Public Works
EF
Enterprise Fund
EV
Electric Vehicle
FTE
Full Time Equivalent
GF
General Fund
HVAC
Heating, Ventilation, &Air Conditioning
ID DE
Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
1/1
Infiltration/Inflow
IP
Indefinite Postponement
IT
Innovation & Technology
LCP
Lexington Children's Place
LexCC
Lexington Community Center
LexHAB
Lexington Housing Assistance Board
LHA
Lexington Housing Authority
LHP
Lexington Housing Partnership
LHS
Lexington High School
LPS
Lexington Public Schools
LRTP
Long -Range Transportation Plan
LVT
Linoleum Vinyl Tile
M.G.L.
Massachusetts General Laws
MoDPHASE
Modifying Public Housing and Supporting Elders
70
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
MPAC
Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission
MS4
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System
MSBA
Massachusetts School Building Authority
NPDES
National Pollutant Discharge and Elimination System
N/A
Not Applicable
OPM
Owners Project Manager
PBC
Permanent Building Committee
PMP
Pavement Management Program
PS&E
Plans, Specifications & Estimates
RSR
Road Surface Rating
R&CP
Recreation and Community Programs
RE
Retained Earnings
RTU
Roof Top Unit
SAN
Storage Area Network
SB
Select Board (previously Board of Selectmen - BOS)
Sc
School Committee
SCI
Sidewalk Condition Index
SF
Stabilization Fund
SHI
Subsidized Housing Index
SMMA
Formerly Symmes Maini and McKee Associates, now just "SMMA"
STEAM
Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics
SEM
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
STM
Special Town Meeting
TAR
Town -accepted Roadway
TBD
To be determined
TMOD
Traffic Management Overlay District
TNC
Transportation Network Company
TOB
Town Office Building
TSG
Transportation Safety Group
UA
Universally Accessible
VCT
Vinyl Composite Tile
VOW
Voice Over IP
WAP
Wireless Access Point
71
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
Appendix C: Summary of Warrant Articles Addressed
Article #
Title
Motion
Requested
Funding
Total
Committee
Vote
7
Sustainable Capital Projects
$ 463,000
6-0 approve
10(a)
Document Conservation
$ 20,000
6-0 approve
10(b)
Munroe Center for the Arts Cash Refinancing
$ 2,000,000
6-0 approve
10(c)
Affordable Housing Trust Funding
$ 3,200,000
6-0 approve
10(d)
LexHAB Affordable Housing Support, Restoration, and
Preservation
$ 395,355
6-0 approve
10(e)
Park Improvements -Athletic Fields - Harrington: Phase 2
$ 2,630,000
6-0 approve
10(f)
Playground Infrastructure Upgrades
$ 100,000
6-0 approve
10(g)
Administrative Budget
$ 150,000
6-0 approve
11
Appropriate for Recreation Capital Projects
$ 190,000
6-0 approve
11(a)
I Pine Meadows Equipment
$ 60,000
6-0 approve
11(b)
Pine Meadows Improvements
$ 130,000
6-0 approve
12(a)
Transportation Mitigation
$ 80,000
6-0 approve
12(b)
Bicycle -Pedestrian Plan Implementation (MMBW to LHS)
$ 180,000
6-0 approve
12(c)
Town -Wide Bicycle -Pedestrian Plan Implementation
$ 100,000
6-0 approve
12(d)
I Fire Ladder Truck
$ 2,500,000
6-0 approve
12(e)
Equipment Replacement
$ 1,700,000
6-0 approve
12(f)
Sidewalk Improvements
$ 820,000
6-0 approve
12(g)
Hydrant Replacement
$ 150,000
6-0 approve
12(h)
Street Improvements
$ 2,746,777
6-0 approve
12(i)
Stormwater Management Program
$ 2,665,000
6-0 approve
120)
DPW Building Floor Repairs
$ 220,000
6-0 approve
12(k)
Burlington & North Streets Sidewalk
$ 60,000
6-0 approve
12(I)
Adams Street Intersection Improvement at East & Hancock
1 Streets
IP
6-0 Indefinite
Postponement
12(m)
Hartwell Training Facility Paving
$ 67,458
6-0 approve
12(n)
Municipal Technology Improvement Program
$ 145,000
6-0 approve
12(0)
Application Implementation
$ 115,000
6-0 approve
12(p)
Network Technology Improvements
$ 120,000
6-0 approve
13
Appropriate for Water System Improvements
$ 2,381,639
6-0 approve
14(a)
Sanitary Sewer System Investigations and Improvements
$ 1,104,080
6-0 approve
14(b)
Pump Station Building Improvements
$ 200,000
6-0 approve
15
Appropriate for School Capital Projects and Equipment
$ 1,425,657
6-0 approve
16(a)
Public Facilities Bid Documents
$ 125,000
6-0 approve
16(b)
I Public Facilities Interior Finishes
$ 486,720
6-0 approve
72
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
Article #
Title
Motion
Requested
Funding
Total
Committee
Vote
16(c)
I School Paving and Sidewalks
$ 225,000
6-0 approve
16(d)
Public Facilities Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing
Replacements
$ 4,565,000
6-0 approve
16(e)
LHS Emergency Funds
$ 400,000
6-0 approve
18
Rescind Prior Borrowing Authorizations
$ 2,624,850
6-0 approve
19
Establish, Amend, Dissolve and Appropriate To and From
Specified Stabilization Funds (SFs)
$ 8,130,888
6-0 approve
21
Appropriate for Authorized Capital Improvements
N/A
6-0 indefinite
postponement
23
Appropriate for Trash/Recycling Bins
$ 1,204,000
6-0 approve
26
Oversee Financial Expenditures LHS Project (Citizen Petition)
TBD
6-0 disapprove
27
Procurement for Online Capital Project Platform (Citizen
Petition)
$ 50,000
6-0 disapprove
28
Speed Humps - Walnut Street (Citizen Petition)
TBD
6-0 disapprove
73
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2026 ATM
Appendix D: Affordable Housing Trust 5 Year Capital Plan
Affordable Housing Trust Projected Sources of Revenue and Anticipated Requests
FY2025
FY2026
FY2027
FY2028
FY2029
FY2030
FY2031
Actual
Budget'
Requested
Projection
Projection
Projection
Projection
Beginning Fund Balance
$ 952,900
$ 3,176,504
$ 3,140,145
$ 12,795
$ (3,506,425) $ (4,974,292) $ (6,511,723)
Revenue:
T.M. Appropriations from CPA
$ 3,200,000
$ 3,000,000
$ 3,200,000
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
Transfers from Available
Funds
$ 129,749
$ 133,641
$ 137,650
$ 141,780
$ 146,033
$ 150,414
$ 154,926
Interest Earned
$ 48,529
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
Fee Revenue & Other Income
$ -
$ 5,000
$ 5,000
$ 510001$
5,0001$
5,000,$
5,000
Total Revenue
$ 3,378,278
$ 3,138,641
$ 3,342,650
$ 146,7801$
151,0331$
155,4141$
159,926
Expenses:
Grants to LexHAB for Vine
$ 3,000,000
$ 3,000,000
Grants to LexHAB
$ 1,100,000
TBD $ 320,000
$ 336,000
$ 1,278,900
$ 1,342,845
$ 1,409,987
Grants to Lexington Housing
Authority
$ -
$ 1,250,000
$ 1,250,000
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
MBTA/SRD Buy -down
$ -
$ 1,725,000
$ 1,500,000
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
Resident Support
$ -
$ 100,000
$ 200,000
$ 230,000
$ 240,000
$ 250,000
$ 260,000
Affordable Housing Creation/
Acquisition
$ -
$ -
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
Administrative Expenses
$ 54,674
$ 100,000
$ 200,000
$ 100,000
$ 100,000
$ 100,000
$ 100,000
Total Expenses ---$l,154,6741$3,175,0001$6,470,0001$3,666,0001$
1,618,900
$ 1,692,845
$ 1,769,987
Ending Fund Balance'
$ 3,176,504
$ 3,140,145
$ 12,795 1$(3,506,4251$
(4,974,292)1$ (6,511,723)1$ (8,121,784)
1) TBD expenses could be encumbered in FY2026
2) LexHAB has applied separately to CPC for $139,140 in FY2026 AND $392,355 in FY2027
3) AHT strives to maintain an annual balance of $1,000,000
AHT anticipated requests as of 10/23/2025
74