Springfield City Council approves $928 million FY25 budget
SPRINGFIELD — With some trimming by the City Council, a slightly leaner $928 million budget for fiscal year 2025 was passed unanimously at the May 28 meeting by the 11 members in attendance.
Dinnall selected as next Springfield superintendent
SPRINGFIELD — The School Committee selected Sonia Dinnall as the next superintendent of Springfield Public Schools during a 4-3 vote at the special meeting on May 30.
Western Mass. senators push priorities in budget debate
Following a vigorous May 23 debate session, the nearly $60 billion budget reached unanimous approval by the Massachusetts state Senate. Members adopted more than 400 of the 1,100 amendments filed, resulting in close to $90 million of additional spending with Western Massachusetts lawmakers maintaining the regions stake in funding.
School district assessment, pickleball dominate Wilbraham Town Meeting
WILBRAHAM — A two-hour Town Meeting moved swiftly through a warrant containing 57 articles with attention focusing on the seemingly resolved differences in the budget numbers for the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District budget, funding for a new fire engine, issues concerning drinking water, battery storage, additions to the Memorial School pickleball courts, the presence of ice cream vendors and steeper fines for littering in town.
Nonprofits receive grants to support women, girls in Western Mass.
The Women’s Foundation of Boston recently announced that it has awarded more than $2.17 million in grants funding to nonprofits that focus on serving women and girls. These include three organizations based in the Pioneer Valley that will receive a total of $583,000 over the next three years.
Water rates may increase substantially for fiscal year 2025
LONGMEADOW — The Longmeadow Select Board weighed whether to approve a dramatic hike in water rates when it met on June 3. The rate increases are the largest in years, but Finance Director Ian Coddington warned they will not be the last.