South Hadley Selectboard continues to work on budget in advance of override vote

The Selectboard discusses the proposed FY27 budget as presented during its meeting on March 17.
Photo credit: SHCTV15

SOUTH HADLEY — During the Selectboard meeting on March 17, the board discussed the fiscal year 2027 budget as well as clear up some confusion regarding the upcoming Proposition 2½ override vote on Tuesday, April 14.

At the meeting, multiple residents shared their confusion with the upcoming override vote and how it may impact their taxes. Town Administrator Lisa Wong and the Selectboard tried to answer all their questions.

There is a community meeting scheduled for Saturday, March 28. Wong said the meeting will serve as an opportunity for residents to hear more extensive reports on the budget and provide comments.

In addition to the community meetings and public hearings, Wong and Assistant Town Administrator Chuck Romboletti are having in person office throughout the end of March into early April.

Budget office hours include Saturday, March 28 at 9:30 a.m. at the Senior Center, Thursday, April 2, from 2-4 p.m. at the Town Hall Selectboard room, Tuesday, April 7, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the Senior Center and Wednesday, April 8, from 11 a.m. to noon at the South Hadley Public Library.

“If people have questions they can come and speak to us in person,” Wong stated.

Town Administration is also available by appointment. Readers can call Executive Assitant to Administration Kristin Maher at 413-538-5030, ext. 6135, or email KMAHER@southhadleyma.gov.

Residents can also go to savesouthhadley.org to learn more about why South Hadley needs an override, the different options and an override tax calculator where residents can enter their assessed home value to see exactly how you may be impacted.

The total tax number that pops up is an estimated annual tax impact that would be intended to be raised over the course of five years.

The Selectboard shared a spreadsheet that the Board of Assessors put together to show the highest monthly tax increase for each proposal at different property assessed values and percentage of properties in that valuation range.

Even if an override is approved, South Hadley will still have to follow Proposition 2½. An override would increase the levy limit, but once you increase it, the new levy limit can only go up by 2.5% if there is another override.

The Annual Town Meeting, which is set to take place in May, is “when this body will actually appropriate a budget for the following year based on the levy limit that is either going to stay the same or increase if there is an override vote,” Wong explained.

At the Selectboard meeting, the board also approved the warrant for the 2026 town election set to take place on Tuesday, April 14.
Besides voting for different candidates for different town boards, the town election will feature asking residents to consider a Proposition 2½ override to save jobs, town buildings and extracurricular activities.

In a 3-2 vote on March 3, the Selectboard approved two override options that residents will vote on come election day: the $9 million option or the $11 million option.

For residents voting in April, the ballot will include two separate questions. Voters may vote for or against each question independently. A majority is required for one of the questions to pass. If both questions pass, the $11 million override will prevail.

Each question will read “Shall the Town of South Hadley be allowed to assess an additional $____ in real estate and personal property taxes for the purposes of operating the Municipal Government and Public Schools for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026?”

The blank will have $9 million as one option and $11 million as the other. The residents will vote either yes or no.

After debate and hesitation, the Selectboard also approved the FY27 budget as presented and sent it to the Appropriations Committee for further review.

The FY27 budget can still change before the Town Meeting in May based on what the town decides at the April 14 town election.

The Selectboard was hesitant to approve the budget because the current FY27 budget included multiple cuts. The proposed FY27 budget would potentially cause the elimination of positions within town services and the School Department. Additionally, the potential cuts could lead to the closure of municipal buildings and the removal of extracurricular activities from the school system, including all sports.

Selectboard member Carol Constant also said she did not endorse the budget but made the motion to send the budget along to keep the process going.

Select Board member Andrea Miles was also hesitant to approve the proposed budget because, “I don’t want to approve a budget that’s going to have all the cuts. I don’t want to approve this budget. I do not approve of this budget.”