Holyoke mayor urges council to approve Municipal Finance Modernization Act as budget is received

Mayor Garcia told the Holyoke City Council at a special meeting that "the state of our city is strong" and urged the council to approve a sweeping Municipal Finance Modernization Act designed to reorganize financial departments, create a chief financial administrative officer and improve auditing and oversight. The council voted to receive the mayor’s proposed budget and lay it on the table by voice vote.

The mayor said the proposed Municipal Finance Modernization Act is a "complete rewrite" of the city's financial ordinances and described it as common-sense reforms intended to increase efficiency, forecast revenues more accurately and ensure continuity across administrations. He asked the council to adopt the changes before the end of the fiscal year so elements could take effect July 1 and said the measures could produce projected savings of more than $100,000 by 2027.

Why it matters: The mayor framed the reforms as steps to stabilize Holyoke’s finances amid uncertainty over federal grant programs. He warned that potential federal cuts, including to programs such as Community Development Block Grants, could affect food banks, housing initiatives and social services the city has relied on. The ordinance would also change job titles and add oversight tools the administration says are needed to maintain the city's balanced budget and potentially improve its bond rating.

Details of the finance proposal and context The mayor said a voter referendum earlier this year changed the treasurer from an elected to an appointed position and thanked former elected treasurer Rory Casey for his service. The proposed act would create a chief financial administrative officer (CAFO) — a role the mayor said the State Division of Local Services has recommended for nearly two decades — and reorganize finance functions across departments. The mayor credited consultant TJ Plant with helping develop the proposal.

Public safety and workforce initiatives The mayor highlighted recent changes at the Police Department under Chief Brian Keenan, saying the department has cut overtime spending by 47% and implemented online scheduling and benefits management. He said the department will expand community policing with officers assigned to geographic beats and add bike and foot patrols.

On workforce and reentry, the mayor said the city will offer Roca participants commercial driver’s license training and employment pathways with the city and will support Sheriff Nick Cocchi’s AISS (all inclusive supportive services) program for people leaving incarceration. The mayor also described plans for a community response division at the War Memorial to coordinate agencies working on mental health, addiction and reentry.

Schools and receivership The mayor announced that, after years of state oversight, the Holyoke Public Schools are coming out of receivership and a new middle school will have a ribbon cutting in August. He said the school committee will regain decision-making authority, the superintendent will be accountable to the elected committee, and members of the Holyoke Teachers Association will retain collective-bargaining rights. The mayor publicly thanked Anthony Sotto for his work during the period of receivership.

Council action and next steps At the meeting the presiding councilor moved and a second was received to "receive the budget and lay it on the table." The motion passed on a voice vote; individual roll-call votes were not recorded in the transcript. The council president announced three budget hearings scheduled for May 19, May 29 and June 9. The meeting then adjourned.

Attributions All direct quotations and attributions in this article come from speakers recorded in the meeting transcript, including Mayor Garcia and remarks referencing Police Chief Brian Keenan and others present.