Easthampton council sets June 9 special election on $6.9 million override after heated debate

The Easthampton City Council voted April 27 to schedule a special election on June 9 asking voters whether the city may assess an additional $6,900,000 in real‑estate and personal‑property taxes for municipal operations and public schools beginning July 1, 2026.

Mayor Derby, who outlined the city’s budget shortfall, said the override is intended to avoid “catastrophic cuts” to schools, public safety and essential services. “This is not something we do lightly,” Derby said, describing a multiyear gap that the budget task force concluded would grow without additional recurring revenue. The mayor and the treasurer presented examples showing the homeowner impact: an additional $2.87 per $1,000 of assessed value — about $1,199.64 a year for the town’s median‑valued home, the mayor said.

The override amount and timing drew sustained questions from councilors. Treasurer Brooke Johnson told the council that updated debt‑service and interest projections, plus contractual and health‑insurance increases, produced a larger multiyear shortfall than earlier figures suggested. “We saw about a $3,000,000 increase in our budget from last year,” Johnson said. She and the mayor warned that a smaller, single‑year ask could leave the city back at the polls in short order because the gap compounds year to year.

Councilors debated whether to present a single ballot question or multiple, tiered numbers. Councilor Kuczynski proposed adding a lower fallback question so voters would have an option if the full amount failed; supporters argued it would improve the chance of securing some funding, while opponents warned it would confuse voters and increase the cost and education burden of the campaign. The council voted against the amendment.

More than an hour and a half of public comment followed, with speakers divided. Former finance committee members and some parents urged passage to protect classroom programs and emergency services; Dan Wrist, a long‑time local finance volunteer, said, “An override is absolutely necessary.” Other residents — including seniors and fixed‑income households — opposed the override or urged a smaller ask, saying it could price vulnerable residents out of the city. Speakers also called for clearer, property‑level calculators and more time for public education before the vote.

Councilors emphasized that placing the question on the ballot does not bind the council to spend every dollar allowed; it authorizes up to the stated amount and leaves choices about the exact levy to later budget‑year decisions. The clerk explained election logistics, including early‑by‑mail and absentee voting, and estimated municipal election costs in the mid‑five‑figures to cover staffing, ballot printing and machine programming.

The motion to schedule the June 9 special election with the following ballot language — “Shall the city of Easthampton be allowed to assess an additional $6,900,000 in real estate and personal property taxes for the purpose of operating the municipal government and public schools for the fiscal year beginning 07/01/2026?” — passed by voice vote. The council instructed the city clerk to prepare the ballot and required election materials. Councilors said they will present two operating budgets at future public hearings — one assuming the override and one assuming it fails — so voters can compare scenarios.

The council’s action starts a compressed public‑information period. The clerk and mayor’s office said they will publish explanatory materials and engage department heads to show the likely implications of a yes or no vote. The special election is scheduled for June 9; ballots and early‑mail voting information will be mailed once finalized.

What’s next: the council will receive detailed operating plans during budget hearings and may propose additional cuts or adjustments before finalizing the tax levy in the fall.