Thanks to writers Alex Jarrett and Andrew Steinberg (“Questions every candidate should answer for voters,” Gazette, Oct. 14) for having served in elected positions during these financially challenging times for all municipalities across Massachusetts (“Report: Municipalities socked by fiscal ‘perfect storm’,” Oct. 13). They rightly point out that their positions require difficult decisions about resources and priorities.

I’ve lived in both communities, but mostly in Northampton; so my response focuses on adding questions for current candidates in Northampton’s upcoming elections.

Recent budgeting challenges have consistently led to underfunding the Northampton’s schools (job losses, decreased services). Have there been similar reductions for other departments? Has the state found deficiencies in any other city services besides the schools (as in the failure to provide adequate coverage for students with Individual Education Plans)?

Over the last three years, during the budget process, the mayor has increased funding for the schools in response to requests to do so — without reducing other departments budgets. Apparently, there are ways to construct and revise budgets without pitting department against department.

The city’s Fiscal Stability Plan structures its annual budgets. It has led to sizable annual budget surpluses and, at the same time, an inability to adequately fund the schools. Do you think it’s time to revisit and perhaps revise that plan?

The city’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) was approved by the City Council in January, committing monies to capital projects for FY2026, before the city’s FY2026 operating budget was presented to the council in May. The city’s Financial Policy Manual (updated 2023) says the CIP doesn’t need to be approved until the end of May; and it adds this: “The City Council shall hold at least one public hearing to discuss both operating and capital budget proposals.” Would you agree that there should be at least one City Council meeting every year where the proposed capital and operating budgets are discussed simultaneously?

This election offers an abundance of candidates with wide-ranging experience, points of view, and differences of approaches. It’s engaged democracy in action. It’s about choices regarding resources and priorities. Please vote and vote wisely. There are lots of questions.

Tom Riddell

Northampton