Milton residents will vote twice before the town can close its $11.75 million deal for the former Labouré College campus on Adams Street.
The town published a detailed FAQ on Wednesday, Sept. 23, that spells out the approval path, tax impact and potential uses for the 4.7-acre property at 303 Adams St. As we reported that same day, the Select Board approved the purchase and sale agreement on Tuesday, Sept. 22.
Two votes stand between the agreement and a closing. First, Town Meeting must approve the acquisition by a two-thirds supermajority. Even if that passes, the deal remains contingent on a second vote: a debt exclusion ballot question scheduled for Dec. 15, which requires a simple majority. Residents can cast that ballot by mail, absentee or in person.
What it costs
The town estimates first-year debt service at roughly $1.157 million, financed over 20 years at a 5% interest rate. For the average single-family homeowner, that translates to about $130 more per year, raising the typical tax bill from $12,768 to $12,898, according to the town's FAQ. That amounts to about a 1% increase in the town's tax levy.
A debt exclusion is temporary, tied to repaying this specific borrowing, not a permanent operating override. Milton has used the same mechanism for prior school construction, the library renovation and the ongoing fire station projects.
How the price was set
The town hired appraiser LandVest, which valued the property at $10.9 million within a range of $10.18 million to $12.2 million. Labouré's own appraisal, completed in September 2025, came in at $11.75 million. A commercial broker was actively marketing the site and preparing to solicit best-and-final offers from developers at pricing above the town's offer, according to the FAQ.
School use under study, not decided
No final decision on the property's use has been made. The Select Board has backed further study of a school project at the site, and the School Committee voted to evaluate a Pre-Kindergarten/Kindergarten program there. Architectural firm DLR Group presented test fits and cost estimates to the School Building Committee on Aug. 3 and found a PreK/K program feasible, with costs anticipated to be lower than an alternative middle school project.
Milton entered the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) program in December 2024 and signed a feasibility study agreement with the MSBA in February 2026. That agreement set parameters for three enrollment options to be studied, including elementary, middle school and district PreK configurations. The MSBA process allows the town to study Labouré as a site, and the town is seeking guidance from the MSBA on whether additional enrollment options can be evaluated there.
If a school doesn't happen
If a school project does not move forward at Labouré, the Select Board said in its FAQ that it would launch a community planning process to explore other uses for the property. Town Meeting would still need to approve any new zoning or any future lease or sale.
The town said acquiring the site lets Milton control its redevelopment rather than react to a private developer's plans. Labouré College ceased academic operations in August 2026 after transitioning its nursing programs to Curry College, as the Milton Times reported.
Residents with questions can contact Town Administrator Nicholas Milano at [email protected] or 617-898-4845. The Dec. 15 debt exclusion ballot is the final step before the town can complete the purchase.
