South Hadley to discuss another tax override question to curb cuts

Community members gather at the quad board meeting to hear the next steps about the FY27 budget after the failed tax override vote.
Photo credit: SHCTV15

SOUTH HADLEY — Residents may once again be asked to pay more in taxes as the South Hadley town administration and Selectboard are continuing to look at options to save proposed positions and service cuts.

Although the $9 million and $11 million tax override options did not pass during the April 14 town election, the Selectboard, School Committee, Appropriations Committee and Capital Planning Committee met on April 21 to discuss different budget options and offer a chance for each board and the community to provide input about the situation.

Town Administrator Lisa Wong presented various budgets under consideration for discussion among the boards. The presentation included the existing proposed budget under the deficit scenario and a three-year projection for FY27, FY28 and FY29.

Part of the presentation included three options for a new proposed ballot question to see if the residents would allow the town to assess an additional $4.35 million in real estate and personal property taxes for the fiscal year beginning July 1. The $4.35 million would be raised over three years.

The ballot questions allow the town to provide more detail about what the $4.35 million would go toward, including which services and positions will be saved or how much will be allocated to assist each department.

According to Wong, of the $4.35 million, approximately $2.31 million would be allocated to South Hadley Public Schools, including funding for four high school teachers, one music teacher, one assistant superintendent, an assistant director of student services, an athletic director, athletic trainer, assistant principal, mental health coordinator, extracurriculars, sports, music program for middle and high school, advanced placement and elective classes.

Wong told Reminder Publishing that the positions would be funded for FY27 if the vote occurred before July 1 and was successful.
Because the override amount will likely be smaller, according to Wong, not all services and positions will be reinstated. There will be more debate during meetings on April 28 and May 5 about the number.

Following the joint meeting discussion on April 21, the Selectboard will vote on May 5 on whether to have a special town election with the proposed ballot question. The tentative proposed special town election would occur on June 23.

South Hadley Public Schools Superintendent Jennifer Voyik said that the listed $2.31 million allocated for the schools would provide level services over the next two years.

The proposed tax override would also assist with funding positions and services at the Gaylord Memorial Library, human services, the Police Department, Town Hall and Senior Center.

Currently, the town budget that will be presented at Town Meeting is a deficit budget since the town did not approve either of the tax override options on April 14.

On March 17, the Selectboard approved the FY27 budget as presented and sent it to the Appropriations Committee for further review. The School Committee approved a $27.5 million budget at its March 25 meeting.

The total town budget is approximately $59.9 million, an increase from FY26 by a little less than $2 million.

Wong talked about the failed tax override votes and said that essentially, the $9 million and $11 million tax override options were a way to plug the budget gap for four and five years, respectively.

The presentation on April 21 looked at a one-year, two-year and three-year plan. To provide level services for town departments in FY27, there’s approximately a $2 million budget gap, including a school budget that is $1.2 million below where they need to be to provide a level-funded budget.

Wong said she has not done an average taxpayer impact or updated the override tax calculator, so more information on that will be available in the near future.

On Tuesday, April 28, Wong and the Appropriations Committee will be hosting a review of the Town Meeting warrant articles at 5:30 p.m. remotely and at the Council on Aging on 45 Dayton St. Town Meeting is set to take place on Wednesday, May 13.