Hopkinton Heads to Town Meeting Saturday With Water, Schools, and Zoning on Ballot

HOPKINTON — April 30, 2026 — Hopkinton officials previewed a packed May 2 Town Meeting at the eHop Know Your Vote Forum on April 30. A town water official outlined plans for a Massachusetts Water Resources Authority connection to address supply shortfalls and water quality complaints including PFAS, iron, and manganese, calling it "the most cost-effective, most environmentally responsible" option after a full alternatives analysis. The Planning Board presented a revised MBTA Communities zoning amendment designed to physically connect the downtown business district and Walcott Valley district on a map after the state rejected the prior plan as non-adjoining; a town representative said the state has confirmed the new approach is viable. School officials reported trimming the FY27 operating budget request by $629,000 — dropping the proposed increase from 5.84 percent to 4.92 percent — by deferring positions and facility work rather than cutting staff. A town finance official reported $16 million in available free cash to fund capital projects. Town Meeting begins at 9 a.m. at Hopkinton Middle School Auditorium.