If you live in Harvard or Devens, the Harvard-Devens Jurisdiction Committee’s forum on Tuesday, Jan. 27, at 7:30 p.m., at the Harvard Senior Center on Lancaster County Road should be on your calendar.
For the first time, residents will hear answers to questions that have been circulating for months: What would resuming jurisdiction over land within the town’s historical boundaries mean for Harvard’s budget? Would taxes go up or down? How will expanding Devens housing affect Harvard schools? These aren’t abstract policy questions—they’re about your wallet, your children’s education, and the character of the community.
The numbers alone underscore what’s at stake. Devens now employs 7,675 people earning an average of $113,000 annually, generating nearly $8 billion in economic output for Massachusetts, according to a recent economic analysis. With the 2024 removal of the housing cap opening 60-plus acres for development, Devens is poised for significant residential growth. The roughly 950 current Devens residents could soon become hundreds more families—families whose children would attend Harvard schools under the existing contract.
This isn’t just Harvard’s decision. Devens residents have an equally vital stake in understanding how governance changes could affect their taxes, services, and community identity. While the committee has focused on Harvard resuming jurisdiction within its historical boundaries, the broader conversation about Devens’ future requires input from those who live and work there.
The July 1, 2033, legislative deadline may seem distant, but decisions made in the coming years will shape that final plan. Democracy works best when citizens are informed and engaged. The committee has done its homework—now it’s our turn to show up, listen, ask questions, and participate in this critical discussion. This is about our shared future. Be there.