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Holyoke candidates debate tax fixes, worker pay and municipal modernization
Summary
Forum candidates debated a staged split‑rate tax plan, the need for increased local aid and measures to retain municipal workers; several urged investing savings into infrastructure and staff pay.
Municipal finance and workforce issues were a frequent theme at the Holyoke Media forum, with candidates offering contrasting approaches to raise revenue and improve city services.
Christopher Donay outlined a staged split‑rate tax proposal that would shift taxation toward land and vacant lots to discourage blight and reduce homeowner burdens; he said the plan would require a study, public referendum and a home‑rule petition to the state. "It needs to be first proven through a study, then it needs to build political legitimacy through a referendum, and then we need a home rule petition and support from our state senator and representative," Donay said.
Kevin Jourdain and others called for more outside resources, arguing Holyoke cannot rely solely on property taxes to fund salary increases and infrastructure. Jourdain urged a 'radical increase in local aid' from state coffers to pay salaries and improve workplace safety. "We need to get a radical increase in our local aid because... we are never going to generate enough on property taxes," he said.
Several candidates described municipal morale and pay as barriers to retaining qualified staff. Mimi Panitch and Jennifer Keat recommended improved salaries, better workplace respect and more training; Panitch also proposed permitting reform to improve efficiency and reduce staff strain.
Infrastructure spending was presented as both a fiscal challenge and an economic opportunity. Michael Sullivan highlighted a new 10‑year, $80,000,000 wastewater contract and argued that stormwater separation work could free capacity to attract food and beverage industries and expand the tax base. Candidates variously linked tax policy, grant‑seeking and contract management as levers to finance staff pay and infrastructure work.
None of the candidates presented a binding fiscal plan the council has adopted; proposals will require committee review, fiscal analysis and — in the case of Donay’s split‑rate idea — voter approval and state action to change tax structure.
