Princeton MA – May 2026

The top news story in Princeton, MA this month is the decisive passing of a $16.65 million ballot question to fund a new public safety building. Local coverage of Princeton and the surrounding Wachusett region has focused heavily on municipal votes, community infrastructure, and regional impacts.

Passing of the Public Safety Building Debt Exclusion

During the Annual Town Election on May 11, 2026, Princeton voters approved a Proposition 2 ½ debt exclusion question by a margin of 757 “Yes” votes to 288 “No” votes. This officially greenlights $16.65 million in borrowing to construct a modern facility housing the town’s police and fire departments. The vote followed a 2/3 majority approval at a previous Special Town Meeting, allowing construction to begin as early as this spring or summer.

Uncontested Annual Town Election Results

The town election on May 11 brought out 1,046 of Princeton’s 3,220 registered voters, marking a 32.48% voter turnout. While the public safety building ballot question drove the turnout, the candidate portion of the ticket featured exclusively uncontested races, solidifying the local leadership seats for the upcoming term.

Wachusett School District Budget Concerns

Princeton residents are keeping a close eye on the broader Wachusett Regional School District budget following financial developments in neighboring towns. On May 21, voters in nearby Paxton rejected a Proposition 2 ½ override intended to balance their local town budget. Because budget overrides are struggling in parts of the five-town regional district, local administrators are monitoring potential downstream impacts on the shared school system’s funding.

Regional First Responder Community Mourning

The Princeton Police Department and local fire crews are publicly mourning the loss of Firefighter/Paramedic Jim Emerton from the neighboring Sterling Fire Department. Emerton passed away in mid-May following a long battle with occupational cancer, drawing massive community support and cross-department tributes throughout the Wachusett area