During the City Council meeting on Tuesday, June 3rd, councilors unanimously voted to open the budget hearing on June 9th to members of the public to weigh in on the proposed budget for the 2026 fiscal year. Prior to the final hearing of questions that councilors will ask of city departments, residents will be invited … Continued
State of the City Address The public is invited to observe at the upcoming Special City Council Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, May 13, 6pm where I, Mayor Joshua A. Garcia, will be delivering the proposed FY26 City Budget and sharing the State of the City Address. Mayor’s Budget Narrative The proposed FY26 City of Holyoke budget reflects current revenue … Continued
At an April City Council meeting an order was taken up and forwarded to appropriate committees (Charter and Rules Committee and Ordinance Committee) along with a 20 page document introducing a suite of changes to the city ordinances and city charter. These changes specifically aim to modernize and achieve efficiencies in how financial resources are managed. The … Continued
A policy designed to gain revenue from tax-exempt property owners was presented to a City Council subcommittee Tuesday. Known as a PILOT — Payment in Lieu of Taxes — the purpose of the policy is to bring in a portion of the money a tax-exempt property (for example, properties owned by non-profit organizations and quasi-public institutions) would … Continued
The new budget preparation season is here! A memo to all departments with instructions for the FY26 budget planning process was distributed today. To review memo click here. While departments work on their first draft budget requests, just like in previous years, the Mayor will be connecting with City Councilors one-on-one to go over their objectives … Continued
FAQ: Special Election on January 28, 2025 On January 28, 2025, Holyoke voters will participate in a special election to decide whether the City Treasurer should continue to be an elected position or become a position appointed by the City Council. This document provides answers to common questions and explains the context and rationale behind … Continued
An Open Letter to the Public The Members of the Holyoke City Council write to you today to ask for your support in the upcoming Special Election on January 28th. We are asking you, along with the support of the Mayor and the current Treasurer, to change the position of Treasurer from elected to appointed. … Continued
HOLYOKE — At a Special Election Tuesday, January 28, City voters will be asked if they want to continue the practice of electing the City Treasurer or approve a City Charter change to make the position appointed, rather than elected. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. In-person and absentee voting options … Continued
On Tuesday, December 17, the City Council voted on the shift factor that set the tax rate for residential and commercial properties. For the first time in years, favorable shifts were presented and concluded a significant reduction of tax rates for both residential and commercial properties. However, the average single-family home tax bill will still … Continued
It’s that time of the year! The City Council will convene at a Special Meeting scheduled for Monday, December 16 at 7:00 pm to vote on a shift factor that will determine the tax rate for residential and commercial properties. Before deliberating on how to balance the tax burden between these categories, I am introducing to the … Continued
