SOUTH HADLEY — After a second Proposition 2½ override this year failed at the polls on Sept. 1, South Hadley officials are turning to communication and community outreach to rebuild public trust as they prepare to close a projected $3 million deficit looming over the town’s fiscal 2028 budget.
Voters have twice this year turned down override questions — the $3.5 million earlier this month, which came just five months after a failed $9 million and $11 million override proposal. The funds would have sustained public services and staff for three to five fiscal years, staving off cuts to public works staff, town building hours and school district extracurricular activities.
At their most recent meetings, Select Board and School Committee members discussed the next steps now that further taxation is no longer a viable revenue option. Neither group announced further cuts this fiscal year or alluded to budget reductions next year. Instead, both boards pledged to increase outreach efforts to the community and invite more public input to shape future decisions.
“We’re not going to ask for an override, but we do need to improve communication,” Town Administrator Lisa Wong said during a Sept. 8 Select Board meeting. “We need to improve community trust. We need to have all hands on deck. All the changes we’re having, we need to articulate that.”
Some believe the distrust of local government largely originated from a mismatch between messaging and tangible consequences in the leadup to the first override vote in the spring.
Amy Foley, president of the South Hadley Education Association, said at the Sept. 2 School Committee meeting that those who campaigned in favor of the overrides in April continually promised voters that there was no “secret pot of money” that would save the town. They emphasized immediate, dire cuts to town services and school programs if the override did not pass.
But when the override failed, the town used $1.7 million in free cash to close the gap and avert severe cuts to services, defeating the “secret pot of money” argument. Municipal departments did shrink staff positions internally, but residents rarely saw these changes around town.
“I do think the fact that we were able to get that last-minute save from Appropriations [Committee] and Town Meeting…unfortunately added to that mistrust,” School Committee member Danielle Cooke said. “Everyone just thinks that were going to find the money somewhere and we’re just trying to get more money out of people.”
School Committee member Nicholas Prentiss said the information around free cash infusions and financial stressors had been consistent. In meeting after meeting, public officials drew a connection between the structural deficit and a 40% increase in health insurance costs. Free cash can shrink a deficit once or twice, but consistently using these reserves is bad fiscal practice, Prentiss said.
“There’s no secret giant money pit that the town is throwing money into for fun,” he said. “It’s literally health insurance.”
Fewer programs, slower services
South Hadley is expected to use $1 million in free cash for next year’s budget, but the schools will still have an estimated $1 million shortfall. Superintendent Jennifer Voyik told the School Committee that all potential reductions are back on the table. Past budget conversations considered elimination of sports and extracurriculars, loss of five administration positions and cuts to every high school subject.
“We need to be clear that the failed override will have an impact on our students, our staff and the programs and service we’re able to provide,” Voyik said.
It was too premature to announce any cuts to services and staff this month. Voyik hopes the four new positions added through free cash for this school year will enhance South Hadley’s education and prevent students from leaving the district.
While the School Committee members agreed, Tracie Kennedy said early announcements of reductions is part of the committee’s duty to South Hadley families.
“We owe families and students the opportunity to make the best decision possible for their education,” Kennedy said. “While I hope that that decision is to stay in South Hadley, because I believe in our schools, I know for some families that may not be an option.”
Other departments are feeling the squeeze of staff reductions, Wong told the Select Board on Sept. 8. Town Hall will remain closed on Fridays to the public, and other town buildings will likely see limited hours in the future. While there will likely be no more layoffs this year, departments could have fewer employees due to unexpected attrition.
For instance, Assistant Town Administrator and Human Resources Director Chuck Romboletti is leaving, and Wong will not fill his role. This pushes 50 hours a week of human resource responsibilities back to Wong.
“We are dealing with a huge reduction of staff in every department and we are planning for more reductions,” Wong said. “It sounds easier said than done, but I will say it is incredibly painful, and it is hard for the staff that is doing more with less.”
Community involvement
With the loss of an assistant town administrator, the Select Board will form several subcommittees to improve communications, economic development and union negotiations. In addition to alleviating Wong’s responsibilities, these subgroups will allow elected officials to have more influence on decisions and bring more resident suggestions to the table.
Both members of the School Committee and Select Board encourage residents to email their thoughts and concerns to members, as well as join municipal committees. Select Board member Priscilla Marion has already received correspondence from residents with good ideas and requests for larger outreach efforts. She and the rest of the leadership hope to build off this foundation in the future.
“If we can engage and bring our community together, that’s the only way we will find our way through this,” Marion said.
