MAY 21, 2026 | FREE
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Vote saves some school services, funds library By Tyler Garnet
tgarnet@thereminder.com
EDITION HOLYOKE
HTA votes in favor of new contract with salary increases The Holyoke Teachers Association ratified a contract that makes new Holyoke teachers among the highest paid in the area.
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CHICOPEE
Agilent Technologies opens Chicopee manufacturing facility
Town Meeting members approve the fiscal year 2027 budget on May 13. Photo credit: SHCTV15
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don’t have a choice,” he said regarding the use of free cash. “So, for all of those out there saying, ‘see? I told you, they found it,’ that’s for right now, and we’re taking a significant gamble, but one that we must take in order to right-size and stabilize where we are right now.” He concluded that a year from now, without an override, the town will be in a worse place than it currently is because it will not have the luxury of $1.5 million in free cash. Town Meeting also approved Article 11 by a 93-12 vote, which means $1.75 million will be raised and appropriated for the General Stabilization Fund, contingent upon the passage of a Proposition 2½ override. On May 5, the Selectboard and town administration announced that they might have a special election on Tuesday, Sept. 1, to see if voters would approve a tax
ECRWSS
South Hadley Selectboard member Carol Constant explained that she was in favor of the amendment to fund the library. “I hope that through all these conversations about the library, you are becoming aware [of the] very difficult decisions that have to be made about the funding of all of the South Hadley departments and our schools. This financial crisis is not of our own making. We do not have hidden pockets of mismanagement. The fact is that rising insurance costs, prop two and a half, and the competition created by school choice have caught up with South Hadley, along with many other towns and cities in Massachusetts.” Ira Brezinsky, who also chairs the Capital Planning Committee, responded to the residents who expressed concerns about how the town will manage money in light of this precarious budget situation. “It’s a terrible practice, but we’re going to do it because we
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minimum funding for the library, which means South Hadley does not have to apply for a waiver for certification. The money brings the town’s contribution to the library up to the percentage of the town budget required to ensure that the library will continue to be accredited by state authorities. Without this accreditation, residents would no longer be able to borrow books from other libraries in the state, either through an interlibrary loan or in person. The town would also lose state funds provided to support the library without the extra funding. The $75,000 does not restore the library to level funding, and the library still needs to operate with reduced hours and staff, according to the town. Members in favor of funding the library said the building should be less about the cost and more about the access to information, memories and programs it offers to people of all ages in town.
Agilent Technologies has expanded its global company to a new location at 711 E. Main St. The milestone was celebrated with a ribbon cutting.
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SOUTH HADLEY — The South Hadley Town Meeting representatives approved the town’s $61.4 million budget on May 13, which includes free cash to prevent cuts in the School Department and fund the library in fiscal year 2027. The budget passed by a 101-6 vote. With both override votes failing on April 14, the town administration has continued to look at ways to address its current $3.5 million budget deficit that is projected to increase each fiscal year. The Town Meeting representatives approved Article 10 on the warrant, which was a recommendation from the Selectboard to approve $1.5 million in free cash to add to the school budget. The additional free cash will prevent the elimination of administrative positions, the reduction of high school staffing and the elimination of sports, extracurriculars and music programs in middle school and high school for the next fiscal year. South Hadley Public Schools were facing a $1.2 million budget deficit, so the allocation will level services and allow them to make some strategic investments. Most of the public input came from Town Meeting members who advocated for the free cash to help fund the library. Originally, the warrant stated that the Selectboard recommended not to use $75,000 in free cash to add to the library budget. However, during Town Meeting, member Nate Therien proposed an amendment to add a combined $75,000 to the library personnel line and library expenses line to be funded by unreserved free cash. The representatives voted in favor of that amendment by a vote of 92-11. The $75,000 is enough to meet
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