“Why are my taxes so high?” Fair question! There are about three budget busters driving your high taxes but there is one in particular I want to highlight. When it comes to your property tax there’s a little-known but very substantial contributing factor: the public employee pension appropriation. Unlike public safety, schools, or roads, the … 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
HOLYOKE — In an announcement welcomed by City officials, the Standard & Poor (S&P) rating agency has affirmed Holyoke’s A+ bond rating and given Holyoke high marks for its financial management policies. Click to review report. S&P also assigned the City its “SP-1+” short-term rating for $32.2 million in bond anticipation notes (BANs). SP-1+ is … 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
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
HOLYOKE — Mayor Joshua A. Garcia has advice for property owners with outstanding fines for building code violation’s: Clear up or pay up. “Landlords, property managers, and homeowners of units of three families and higher should know that the City of Holyoke is preparing to turn over to the Tax Collector those property owners who … Continued
HOLYOKE — Mayor Joshua A. Garcia is contracting with a public policy consultant to help Holyoke initiate a formal Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) policy. “Because we are a compassionate City, we are home to an exceptionally large number of tax-exempt nonprofits that offer a range of services to vulnerable populations,” Garcia said. “Along … Continued
