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Mayor Garcia calls Holyoke 'strong' and highlights finance reforms, schools and zoning outreach
Summary
Mayor Joshua Garcia delivered the State of the City, citing a levy-linked surplus just over $1 million, passage of a Municipal Finance Modernization Act and plans to hire a chief administrative finance officer; he also promised summer outreach on 47 proposed zoning changes and touted recent teacher contract gains.
Mayor Joshua Garcia delivered Holyoke's State of the City address on May 19, telling the City Council and residents that local government in Holyoke is "strong" and emphasizing fiscal reforms, schools and a neighborhood-centered approach to zoning.
Garcia credited the council's February passage of a Municipal Finance Modernization Act for improved oversight and said the administration has begun a search to hire a chief administrative finance officer (CAFO). "Once the reforms are fully implemented, we will be empowered to collect revenues more effectively and forecast our financial future more accurately," he said.
The mayor told the chamber the fiscal year 2027 budget shows a surplus from the levy of "a little over $1,000,000" and urged the council to approve a recommended sewer rate so those levy savings are not needed to subsidize sewer operations. He framed the work on municipal finances as benefiting both current and future administrations.
Garcia also highlighted education achievements: Holyoke has regained local control of its public schools, he said, and the Holyoke Teachers Association ratified a new contract that the mayor said will raise starting salaries and increase pay by "over 20%" for current teachers over three years while guaranteeing prep time and expanded family-leave benefits.
On development and land use, the mayor said the city is positioned to attract private investment and singled out the Holyoke Mall's recent capital investments and a multimillion-dollar proposal for the Kmart Plaza by a new developer. He acknowledged confusion and concern about the way proposed zoning changes were notified and pledged a summer of neighborhood outreach: "We're gonna spend the summer months better informing the public and welcoming more community input," he said.
The mayor framed the broader theme of his remarks around trust: "Can the people trust that we are being wise stewards of public resources?" He closed by saying the city will "keep moving... with hope, with trust," and thanked councilors, staff, families and residents.
Next steps: the council received the mayor's proposed FY27 budget and a recommended sewer rate was sent to ordinance for further review; the administration will continue public engagement on the proposed zoning changes this summer.
