Massachusetts Municipal Association

08/18/2026

This past spring, 54 Mass. towns and cities put Proposition 2½ overrides on the ballot, making FY27 one of the most active override years in history.

What’s really driving this surge, and what does it mean for your community’s budget, schools, and first responders?

On the newest episode of The 351 podcast, co-hosts Adam Chapdelaine and John Ouellette take a deep dive into the numbers, and what they mean:
• Why are local costs outpacing revenue limits across the state?
• Why do school and public safety measures perform better with voters?
• How does transparency and clear communication make or break an override campaign?
• What happens to local services when an override fails?

Local leaders are facing tough decisions across the state, and the underlying financial challenges aren’t going away.

Listen to the episode now:

Leading Massachusetts into the future will take the talent, dedication, and hard work of leaders from all of our 351 cities and towns. Our mission at the Massachusetts Municipal Association is to help those leaders deal with some of the toughest issues in the state.

08/11/2026

One week until the next 351 episode drop! In the meantime, catch up on last week's episode with journalism professor Dan Kennedy & The New Bedford Light Editor Karen Bordeleau. We explore the rise of nonprofit digital newsrooms, how social media and AI are reshaping the media landscape, and why a strong, transparent relationship between municipal leaders and local reporters matters now more than ever.

Listen to the episode now:

Leading Massachusetts into the future will take the talent, dedication, and hard work of leaders from all of our 351 cities and towns. Our mission at the Massachusetts Municipal Association is to help those leaders deal with some of the toughest issues in the state.

08/11/2026

Connect 351 offers timely, informative & interactive workshops to help officials in the work that they do. What topics would you like to see us cover in 2027? Fill out our online form to let us know!

Interactive workshops covering the latest developments affecting local government in Massachusetts are a central feature of the MMA’s annual conference each January.

08/06/2026

A state program designed to help municipalities address winter-related transportation infrastructure needs is accepting applications until early September for extreme hardship cases.

A state program designed to help municipalities address winter-related transportation infrastructure needs is accepting applications until early September for extreme hardship cases. The Winter Recovery Assistance Program provides supplemental funding to cities and towns for transportation infrastru...

08/06/2026

Joined by Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and surrounded by dozens of state and local leaders and immigrant advocates, Gov. Maura Healey signed the PROTECT Act legislation into law in Chelsea.

Joined by Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and surrounded by dozens of state and local leaders and immigrant advocates, Gov. Maura Healey signed the PROTECT Act legislation into law today in Chelsea. The new law is aimed at keeping federal immigration enforcement out of “sensitive places.” The bill was ena...

08/04/2026

When a local newspaper shrinks or closes, a community loses an essential tool for informing residents, holding public officials accountable, and helping people understand the decisions that shape their daily lives.

On this week's episode of The 351, we take a close look at what’s happening to local news right here in Massachusetts, and where the industry goes from here.

We're joined by Dan Kennedy (Northeastern University journalism professor and media commentator) and Karen Bordeleau (Executive Editor of The New Bedford Light).

We explore the rise of nonprofit digital newsrooms, how social media and AI are reshaping the media landscape, and why a strong, transparent relationship between municipal leaders and local reporters matters now more than ever.

Listen to the episode now: www.mma.org/the351

What local news outlets do you rely on to stay informed about your town or city? Let us know in the comments!

08/03/2026

The Massachusetts Clean Water Trust’s Board of Trustees has approved $244.5 million in low-interest loans and grants to municipalities through the Massachusetts State Revolving Funds.

The Massachusetts Clean Water Trust’s Board of Trustees on July 8 approved $244.5 million in low-interest loans and grants to municipalities through the Massachusetts State Revolving Funds. The funds help communities build or replace water infrastructure that enhances existing water resources, ens...

08/03/2026

The MMA hosted a webinar with local regional planning commissions to discuss how municipalities can plan and design safer streets. View summary & recording:

The MMA hosted a webinar with local regional planning commissions on July 23 to discuss how municipalities can plan and design safer streets. Ali Kleyman, Vision Zero program manager for the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization, defined “vision zero” as a “proactive and systems-bas...

07/29/2026

The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation is offering a monthly Floodplain Basics “Lunch and Learn” training series that provides practical guidance, insights, and Q&A sessions for communities facing flooding challenges.

The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation is offering a monthly Floodplain Basics “Lunch and Learn” training series that provides practical guidance, insights, and Q&A sessions for communities facing flooding challenges. Sessions are held on the third Wednesday of each month fr...

07/29/2026

The MMA seeks responses to its biennial Chapter 90 Survey by this Friday, July 31, to help build a clear picture of local road and bridge maintenance needs for future funding requests.

Information gathered through the Chapter 90 survey provides concrete data to help inform legislators and the public through educational materials, public statements, and testimony to the Legislature and state transportation administrators.

The MMA seeks responses to its biennial Chapter 90 Survey by this Friday, July 31, to help build a clear picture of local road and bridge maintenance needs for future funding requests. On July 1, the MMA emailed its biennial Chapter 90 Survey to chief municipal officials and public works and highway...