It's Official: Following Select Board Vote, Clinton will Absorb Portion of Lancaster next April

Some Lancaster Residents will be "Moving to Clinton" next year -- but they won't need trucks. Check to see if your street is on the list.

Lancaster and Clinton will be among the first towns to complete a land swap following Monday's select board vote.     Massachusetts adopted an amendment with the FY2026 budget that allows cash-strapped communities to agree to swaps in exchange for a statutory payment.   

"We are always looking for the best deal for Lancaster residents -- this year that meant getting a little smaller."

Lancaster will receive ten-times the FY2027 assessed taxes for the transferred properties, providing an infusion of cash. 

If your deed has a "no trade clause", you'll have the option to stay in Lancaster.   They are not common though due to the newness of the legislation that allows these swaps.

Clinton was initially part of Lancaster -- in 1850 it was incorporated as a city and named after a New York hotel.

It may not be the last swap in the near future -- the board mentioned that they've been approached by Leominster about acquiring the small portion of Lancaster that lies west of I-190

 List of streets that will be transferred under the "Bladent-Balohny" Amendment.

(APRIL FOOLS!)