When a tax override question was put to South Hadley voters in April 2026, they rejected it by a 2 to 1 vote.
Now just four months later, South Hadley voters will again be asked to approve a tax override ballot question. This time for $3.5 million. But many voters don’t even know this is happening on Sept. 1.
Given that: (1) this override ballot question is coming so soon after the last one; (2) many voters are still on summer vacation; and (3) arguably a significant number of registered voters have no idea this is happening, it is quite likely and very unfair, that extremely low voter turnout could determine the outcome of the tax override ballot question.
Here’s the ballot question:
“Shall the Town of South Hadley be allowed to assess an additional $3,500,000 in real estate and personal property taxes for the purposes of operating the Municipal Government and Public Schools for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026?”
The town administrator said, Aug. 9 on WHMP 1400 AM talk radio, that the $3.5 million would stabilize the budget for the next three budget cycles.
In actuality, an approved override will be a permanent tax increase. If the town wants to collect an additional $3.5 million every single year, it will be free to do so. The town ought to be upfront about that. I believe that lack of transparency and lack of clear information is contributing to a trust deficit and that trust deficit manifested as “no” votes in April.
This $3.5 million override question is being tacked onto the Sept. 1 state primary election. But a majority of South Hadley voters are Independents or Unaffiliated and tend not to vote in primaries. Because our local elections typically only happen in April and November, even high propensity voters wouldn’t expect such an important ballot question in September.
Low voter turnout is going to increase town government’s trust deficit. I urge all South Hadley voters to go to the polls on Sept. 1 at South Hadley High School. Polls open at 7 a.m.
Linda Sachs
South Hadley