New Salem MA – May 2026
The top news stories in New Salem, Massachusetts, this month are dominated by critical town budget developments, a major environmental grant, and a rare local emergency response.
Budget Override Defeat and Annual Town Meeting
Following a narrow 178–159 vote on May 4 rejecting a Proposition 2½ tax override, residents pivoted to pass a leaner $3.7 million operating budget at the Annual Town Meeting on May 11.
All 36 warrant articles were approved at the meeting held inside Swift River School.
While the town coordinator noted some “hurt feelings” over the initial override’s failure, the town intends to send voters back to the ballot box later to vote on a separate override specifically for a $260,000 Highway Department bucket loader.
$73,000 PFAS Contamination Grant
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection officially awarded New Salem a $73,000 state grant. The local funding will be dedicated entirely to assessing and evaluating long-term engineering solutions to combat local PFAS contamination (“forever chemicals”) affecting the area.
Plane Crash in the Quabbin Reservoir
An emergency rescue operation took place on the evening of May 1 after a small plane crashed directly into the Quabbin Reservoir. Witnesses reported hearing calls for help near Route 122 and Fishing Area 2. New Salem fire personnel and a Massachusetts State Trooper successfully pulled the lone pilot from the water. The pilot was flown via Life Flight to UMass Memorial Medical Center.