[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6228706,"mediaKeyId","3468606-8511a27c9e634052ffd43abe5494c1a4","parentId",3468606,"title","Mayor proposes $145.3 million FY2026 budget; council and residents press for higher school funding","audioSeconds",2845,"startMs",5524000,"endMs",8369000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3468606-8511a27c9e634052ffd43abe5494c1a4&start=5524&end=8369","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3468606-8511a27c9e634052ffd43abe5494c1a4/thumbnail_5524000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6228706/Massachusetts/Mayor-proposes-1453-million-FY2026-budget-council-and-residents-press-for-higher-school-funding","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6228706-1e704a91f5cf73145a4bc1ee28abd379/orig.mp4?Expires=1770689478&Signature=MCeavyneLaQqv2Gc68VC1bsXq4jCNWanKyB53yEPdPp8lEBLGm9hpRGC0KXKRSphUy3rgU~28PzcP1cNpamRO4ktqyo0190BJs9EhVqBRY9a43vkjxpTYN~PwSzlNHN1I4SYEmn7LRlqegD15iVa7YNiU2jocKTX2o-aHl3hdfTYzUGc35KBU5VCGmv~yVLMlmOiR84e6cAE9Cg8rO2CQtG8dUVqb9HmU6LszaBVseARBfxK75gC1vbRYsRfEqZCK9Oi3yLdqVjwRb6CXAzlv2HOYCI7H4T4FQk4gcrvEUraKNWQ~pZxCT7A9BYIUhcw6ueqYvdImRdsk07lCd4jUA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Northampton City, MA","date","2025-05-23T19:24:07.817Z","article","Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra on Wednesday submitted a proposed $145,301,999 Fiscal Year 2026 budget for Northampton that the administration said balances continued increases for schools with a cautious approach to reserves and uncertain state and federal aid.

The budget, Sciarra said, includes a $129,543,130 general-fund operating budget and four enterprise funds for water ($6,945,000), sewer ($6,177,500), solid waste ($639,883) and stormwater and flood control ($1,996,486), representing an overall 4.8% increase from FY2025.

The mayor framed the proposal as a deliberate use of Northampton’s fiscal stability plan — a combination of periodic voter-approved overrides, conservative revenue estimates and reserve funds — intended to protect services during economic uncertainty. \"This budget delivers on that vision and it reflects Northampton's shared values: equity, resilience and responsibility,\" Sciarra told the council as she read her budget message.

Why this matters: Education is the largest part of the city’s spending and dominated public comment. The proposed direct general-fund contribution to Northampton Public Schools (NPS) in FY2026 is $43,894,984, up $2,440,000 from FY2025 (a 6.3% city base increase). The administration said additional one-time and non-general-fund items raise NPS’s total requested amount to figures that exceed the city's new revenue without a larger override.

Key facts and context
- The mayor’s proposed budget uses $1,403,757 from the Fiscal Stability Stabilization Fund to balance FY2026.
- The administration says the city’s direct contribution to NPS has increased by about $10.4 million (31%) from FY2022 through FY2026.
- The mayor is also proposing a replenishment of the Special Education Stabilization Fund up to the 2% statutory cap under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40, Section 13E; the council was later asked to appropriate $294,508 from free cash for that purpose.
- The budget assumes higher-than-average local receipts in several categories (motor vehicle excise, hotel/motel excise, parking receipts and investment income), a strategic choice the administration acknowledged is a risk in a volatile national economy.

Public comment and council questions
Residents, educators and students used the public-comment period to urge larger, recurring increases for the schools. Teacher Beth Adams, a 25-year math teacher at Northampton High School, said losing the high school’s tech integrationist will harm classrooms and special-education accommodations and described the position as \"penny wise and pound foolish.\" Student Amelia Durbin, co-chair of the Northampton Youth Commission, urged more state-level advocacy and described local action as part of a broader push for school funding.

Other commenters — including Tina Engman and Meg Robbins — expressed support for the mayor’s adherence to the fiscal-stability plan on the grounds that it helps avoid boom-and-bust cycles. Several speakers, including Tom Riddell and Colin Hoffmeister, criticized the stability plan and urged structural changes to the way schools are funded.

Councilors used the session to identify follow-up questions for department heads in upcoming budget hearings: Councilor Rachel Maori asked whether the Division of Community Care (DCC) plan depends on a state Equitable Approaches to Public Safety (EAPS) grant; Councilor Stan Moulton inquired about the eight firefighter positions the mayor proposed adding and the FEMA grant that could fund them; Councilor Alex Jarrett asked for clarification on student-to-teacher ratios and class sizes using Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) definitions.

Administration response and next steps
The mayor and Finance Director Charlene Nardi (named in the budget book) told the council the administration will provide detailed answers during the scheduled public hearings for the Committee on Finance on May 27 and June 4 at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers and virtually. The administration acknowledged the risks from potential federal grant cuts — particularly Medicaid and public-health grant funding — and said the replenishment of the Special Education Stabilization Fund is intended to provide a buffer if federal reimbursements are reduced.

Decision points and outstanding issues
Discussion only: The council placed the FY2026 general-fund budget on the floor for discussion and divided one portion of the budget for separate consideration because of a recusal; no final vote on the full budget occurred at this meeting.

Forward-looking: The finance committee will hold public hearings May 27 and June 4; the council will consider motions and votes after those hearings. Council members requested supplemental information on class sizes (DESE definitions), projected impacts to non-school departments under different funding scenarios, the status of grant-funded positions in Division of Community Care, and the administration’s conservative/local receipts assumptions.

Ending: The mayor said the FY2026 budget is the final budget of her first term and repeated calls for collaboration among the city, school committee and state delegation as the council proceeds to hearings and votes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Northampton City Council | May 21, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra on Wednesday submitted a proposed $145,301,999 Fiscal Year 2026 budget for Northampton that balances increased school funding with careful use of reserves amid state and federal uncertainty.","taxTitle","Northampton City, Hampshire County, Massachusetts","taxId",68541,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6228689,"Forbes Library Coolidge exhibit conservator, other CPC recommendations sent to finance after public support",3405,1554000,4959000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3468606-8511a27c9e634052ffd43abe5494c1a4&start=1554&end=4959","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3468606-8511a27c9e634052ffd43abe5494c1a4/thumbnail_1554000.jpg","/articles/6228689/Massachusetts/Forbes-Library-Coolidge-exhibit-conservator-other-CPC-recommendations-sent-to-finance-after-public-support","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6228689-0d6f6d43a3acdc9a9539ba1403d262e8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770689478&Signature=oU6IHSSS0yQE9qog1aaxISSg1ZgPO4FX2x4tN0GIQ8LcVRG2nCA5hfJM-OzA9AX5XMoA7jTdJV17p4BY5je8NUKggaBlIF~jqM9hHbVw7W6ba9eimtPt6gIZ8CvYzx0QoTxv9zr4R5q23KIAFWAeU8COIULWTgFYuzfTHXO0MOQBD8q2P1Y~ZD5HiIv1o5clmZIQ48kTxfnUnlxUFWRY~aOI0iEwfLFlYQUhLCTUDr15mFEI6QTn-DSKBGIArokGKMlZgneoPbo4l8L~Fdpc-DcBbEXfJy0ez7rnB3DI~sy0~IJoagdO1cRVbBL5Xu4exj~2iHugSiuGlkMFm4ppcA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Speakers from the Forbes Library and the Coolidge Exhibits Committee urged the council to approve Community Preservation Committee (CPC) grant recommendations that would fund conservation work and exhibit planning, including a requested textile-conservation visit to assess and advise on Coolidge Museum holdings.

Jo Ellen McKenzie, a member of the Coolidge exhibits committee, described work to conserve hats, boots, clothing and other objects connected to President Calvin Coolidge and local music-history materials. She told the council that the museum will use the conservator’s recommendations to stabilize items for future exhibitions and storage planning. McKenzie specifically thanked the CPC for recommending approval and asked the council to move the CPC-recommended grants forward.

Councilors chose to refer all nine FY25 second-round CPC funding financial orders to the finance committee for consideration rather than resolve them at the meeting. Finance will review each CPC recommendation and return a report and recommendation to the full council.

Ending: The finance committee will schedule review of the CPC recommendations in the coming weeks; the council invited public engagement during that review period.","Residents and the Coolidge Exhibits Committee urged council approval of Community Preservation Committee (CPC) grant recommendations including funding for a textile conservator to assess Coolidge Museum materials. The council referred nine CPC funding orders to the finance committee for detailed review.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6228691,"Council to consider resolution backing state 'Medicare for All' bill after supporters highlight local savings",422,6723000,7145000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3468606-8511a27c9e634052ffd43abe5494c1a4&start=6723&end=7145","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3468606-8511a27c9e634052ffd43abe5494c1a4/thumbnail_6723000.jpg","/articles/6228691/Massachusetts/Council-to-consider-resolution-backing-state-Medicare-for-All-bill-after-supporters-highlight-local-savings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6228691-10cf7746588684fa7363e65f573a51d6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770689478&Signature=H1Fg-vwh56gf56atfYZ8zlTXNhxVf8Rry6VFv~VvikwPHx21vnm-Au1YHNBAt3Y4a~4XK54-DSmL80HFAO3FbdzIpEsF7UaGbHCsKtJPGKD49ijM9ZMm2VR9bElEfFq6LbHAOfPPxezg-GmTKc6ynFUo2inA8EV6RVEYS7ih82WpwYogTsgOFTC9PAVpIxafZsomCY2vs~qV4LlyhDhE1RqtA1VdIUMXYly1SKiBKzptTpPjJ7QS0rGE88162pQEF1ynUux2cDPCwL~zbxkkbIlQz~QoiGUOzE-M0tFgkJcl0hffFigm5SJOnm9PptZIOw9UHt4~nlhPuNA7yxbWWg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Councilors on Wednesday introduced and discussed a resolution expressing Northampton’s support for an act to establish a Massachusetts single-payer health system commonly described as \"Medicare for All.\" The item will appear on the council’s June 5 agenda for a second reading and potential vote.

The resolution, sponsored by Councilors Jeremy Dubs, Rachel Maori, Stan Moulton and Quaverly Rothenberg, cites language from the state bill (House bill H.1405 and Senate bill S.860 as referenced in the meeting) and argues single-payer would guarantee inpatient and outpatient medical, dental, vision and long-term care without co-pays or deductibles while leaving delivery of care in private hands.

Speakers in favor at the public-comment podium included John Weisman, chair of the Massachusetts Campaign for Single Payer (MASCARE), and Shelly Berkowitz, a family physician who said the local municipal savings could reach into the millions. Sponsors cited a local calculation — using publicly available municipal budget data — that Northampton could save several million dollars annually on employee and retiree health insurance under a state single-payer system. Councilors and others also noted a nonbinding November 2024 ballot question (Question 6) had favorable local results in districts where it was on the ballot.

Councilor Jeremy Dubs said he supported the resolution on the basis that health care is a human right and he cited national reports about possible federal cuts to Medicaid and Medicare as additional reasons to press for state-level reforms.

Ending: The council did not vote on the resolution Wednesday; members agreed to include the item on the June 5 meeting agenda for a second reading and possible adoption.","Councilors introduced a resolution in support of a Massachusetts single-payer 'Medicare for All' bill (H.1405 / S.860). Supporters said the plan would reduce administrative waste and lower municipal employee and retiree health costs; councilors agreed to place the item on the June 5 agenda for a second reading and possible vote.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6228696,"Citizen petition to rezone Phillips Place referred to Planning Board and legislative committee after residents raise density and notice concerns",5588,1009000,6597000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3468606-8511a27c9e634052ffd43abe5494c1a4&start=1009&end=6597","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3468606-8511a27c9e634052ffd43abe5494c1a4/thumbnail_1009000.jpg","/articles/6228696/Massachusetts/Citizen-petition-to-rezone-Phillips-Place-referred-to-Planning-Board-and-legislative-committee-after-residents-raise-density-and-notice-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6228696-bffbe1af74679acdd89b87ca8e287caf/orig.mp4?Expires=1770689478&Signature=h2uA1dD0z4H4Y-r8jNoYadQHaxVDH4vLAN6QAhAYgGFahEdbBmO4hLD6sqSMmQE3bYcunReFgrtdnGOV2Vy5VwY0~Pokj~53pwuAYQcCNOEGM08W7bFSJ2AwBMM4pL6EpVjmNh4G~g7qqOGMjmirV6inYcJuOtzkbPlMvEj3b6nhlkxH-yFYRqxtWISr3wTw7h43oxSeickmaNhEScY5mYW2-WogLLjg9oDBnFQmwIwkUQ9O-TN8hyL~kbTWG2ZQFX580I0mSN0CTqZnSpiR6N8vGps7aMoz-re5OcTRI3UeAOIT2kYkYLWRNgOJ6Qa27zKkYDbbMJ7AnbgRGkNLoA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Council voted Wednesday to refer a citizen petition to amend Chapter 350.4 (interpretation) and related rezoning language for parcels on Phillips Place to the Planning Board and to the council’s Legislative Matters Committee for review and public hearing.

Property owner Judy Tomasi spoke during public comment in support of the rezoning petition, asking the council to move the request forward promptly and to urge the Planning Board to postpone a related review scheduled for the next day. Tomasi said neighbors are \"up in arms\" about a proposed development on Phillips Place that she described as \"monstrous,\" out of scale with an adjacent historic district on the National Register and likely to worsen parking and traffic.

Other speakers from the neighborhood urged more transparent notice. Tomasi and others said the 2022 zoning amendments that upzoned one parcel were difficult for residents to identify in the agenda and that standard public-notice practices were not followed, limiting citizen awareness when the earlier change occurred.

The councilor sponsoring the referral noted state law requires that proposed zoning ordinances be sent to the Planning Board for review before adoption. The referral motion passed and the council identified the steps required by statute and local rules, including required public notice periods; the councilor said she would coordinate scheduling with the Planning Director and the Legislative Matters Committee.

Ending: The Planning Board — and the Legislative Matters Committee — will hold public hearings as required by state law and city rules; if the Planning Board acts beforehand on the pending special permit for the development, that approval may affect the scope of the rezoning effort.","A citizen petition to rezone parcels on Phillips Place back to residential was referred to the Planning Board and the Council’s Legislative Matters Committee. Neighbors and property owners attending public comment said the proposed nearby development is out of scale with the historic district and criticized prior notice for the 2022 upzoning.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6228701,"Council opens, then closes public hearing on Comcast petition to install underground conduit at 589 Park Hill Road",283,172000,455000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3468606-8511a27c9e634052ffd43abe5494c1a4&start=172&end=455","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3468606-8511a27c9e634052ffd43abe5494c1a4/thumbnail_172000.jpg","/articles/6228701/Massachusetts/Council-opens-then-closes-public-hearing-on-Comcast-petition-to-install-underground-conduit-at-589-Park-Hill-Road","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6228701-4252f10d056923ae785cbdc28f7531dd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770689478&Signature=D1SNJEssiNkg4wQjB0wvMz2Qvuw65IantRfCz0TH6WJcxB1bLvjxf6YEs0Z7JckvuOuCVcpHIznp1Fzjm~6r617C7pfQDAPmNmt71AOPLpwejSqfpvRFdBJ9Xle8IOKEdFphUV-WDyAnIYVBjiS4frriz5zKPh8GC2qeQ74zt2V-S2LjpYDfrIEbpWwa20NO46heK~YPMVHmTu1soJkHmuXeW~GUDLVUH6vhkcdU9dQ5qw26QpTDsS3KzHljrxnXOVupYdZi9bV6sHSwcNMIsrd3cWZqwxe~amRQDc7niYUaPBa~5KrDKOoJ5IQA6YmhRsDU9vBjiQCgi0SUb0czLw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Northampton City Council opened a public hearing Wednesday on a Comcast petition to install underground conduit for cable and internet service to 589 Park Hill Road.

Comcast representative Michael Miller said the company plans to trench about 10 feet from a pole on the opposite side of the road, bore underneath the roadway, enter private property and trench up to the house to connect new service to the property. The city Department of Public Works recommended the petition, noting there were no water or sewer conflicts identified in the DPW review attached to the agenda.

No members of the public addressed the council on the petition. Councilor LaBarge moved to open the public hearing; the council voted to open the hearing and later voted to close it after no public testimony was offered. The petition will be returned for a final council vote later in the agenda as part of the consent agenda.

Ending: The council approved the consent agenda by voice vote, which included the Comcast petition. Final action on the petition was recorded as part of the consent agenda vote.","The City Council opened a public hearing on Comcast’s petition to install underground conduit to service 589 Park Hill Road, heard a brief description from a Comcast representative and the DPW recommendation of no conflicts, received no public comment, and closed the hearing. The petition will return to the council later on the agenda for a vote.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Mayor proposes $145.3 million FY2026 budget; council and residents press for higher school funding

Forbes Library Coolidge exhibit conservator, other CPC recommendations sent to finance after public support

Council to consider resolution backing state 'Medicare for All' bill after supporters highlight local savings

Citizen petition to rezone Phillips Place referred to Planning Board and legislative committee after residents raise density and notice concerns

Council opens, then closes public hearing on Comcast petition to install underground conduit at 589 Park Hill Road