I am so happy to live in Northampton. My three children went through Bridge Street School, JFK Middle School and Northampton High School and received a great educational foundation. Over the last seven years, the city has added staff positions in the schools, and it is trying to do its part to take on climate change.
And Northampton has a mayor who has been a top-notch manager of our city. I am not so happy about the way our city is funded by the commonwealth of Massachusetts. The state has shortchanged us to the tune of over $2 million in charter school reimbursements. We need to change the state education funding formula to be fair to places like Northampton.
Wealthy people should pay more income taxes and lower-income residents should pay less, so that we can meet local needs and stop the relentless cutting of services. Because the state will not fairly fund city needs, we are obligated to take city funding into our own hands locally.
I will vote for the property tax override on March 3, because I want other city kids to have the education and city services my children received. Without fair state funding, that is the actual choice we have. I hope you will join me in voting yes on March 3.
Joel Feldman
Northampton