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Selectboard sets override ballot question for Sept. IN THIS
EDITION
By Tyler Garnet
tgarnet@thereminder.com
SOUTH HADLEY
Town to explore repealing marijuana establishment ban South Hadley will look at the possibility of reversing an eight-year ban.
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HOLYOKE POSTAL CUSTOMER
Fiestas Patronales returns to Holyoke Holyoke will once again host a signature celebration.
and potentially even parts of the library as well.” Wong said that at its peak, Town Hall used to have close to 30 full-time equivalents. That has been reduced closer to 20 for FY27 and might be reduced further. The Police Department’s authorized staffing level was reduced from 29 to 27 sworn officers. “When people say cut the fat, we have cut. I think we’ve cut into the bone, cut into the muscle, and we’re continuing to do more, all in good faith, to show folks that we’re just going to try
to live within our means,” Wong stated. “The $3.5 million that is before you is still an incredibly lean number. It still means that we have to reduce more services, more people, and we have to be innovative.” The Selectboard viewed two different 5-year projections the town put together regarding revenues and expenditures; one with a $3.5 million override and one without. The town plans to implement the Budget Task Force recommendations regarding See OVERRIDE on page 2
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID SPRINGFIELD, MA PERMIT NO. 142
Wong said that since that meeting, she and the town have had many discussions with each department to discuss their priorities. Wong stated that the town is now asking for less because the town is presuming that they are going to operate with less while they look at continuous savings and efficiencies. “The difference between the [$4.35 million] and the [$3.5 million] is that the other departments really are not going to get any restoration,” Wong explained. “That includes police, DPW, all of Town Hall, Council on Aging
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Photo credit: SHCTV15
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PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID SPRINGFIELD, MA PERMIT NO. 142
The Selectboard votes at its July 14 meeting to host a special town election on Sept. 1 to present a tax override question to the residents.
POSTAL CUSTOMER
SOUTH HADLEY — South Hadley voters will see a tax override question during the Sept. 1 state primary after the Selectboard voted 3-2 to ask the town to approve a $3.5 million override raised over three years. The Selectboard and Appropriations Committee hosted a joint meeting on July 14 to discuss the override and ultimately come to a conclusion. Their decision comes three months after voters decided against a $9 million and an $11 million override to save a bunch of city services. The question voters will now see come Sept. 1 reads, “Shall the town of South Hadley be allowed to assess an additional $3.5 million in real estate and personal property taxes for the purpose of operating the municipal government and public schools for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026?” According to previous reporting by Reminder Publishing, a $3.5 million tax override would fund the schools and library, maintain expenses cuts and add to the Stabilization Fund. Before this question was finalized, multiple South Hadley committees hosted a joint meeting on April 21, where Wong proposed a $4.35 million override that would be raised over three years. No decision was made on that proposal, and Wong explained the $4.35 million recommendation would have restored level funding to fiscal year 2026 numbers for just about every department.