Northampton’s City Council will give its first reading to a Proposition 2 1/2 Override Question (PDF, 104KB) at its April 16 meeting (approval to put the question to voters requires passage at two readings). This meeting will begin at 7:15pm in City Council Chambers, 212 Main Street. Here are documents being circulated to the councilors:
See also:
Gazette: “7th try looms for Proposition 2½ override in Northampton” (4/11/09)
The council would need to take a first vote on the question Thursday and a second vote [at a subsequent meeting] to give the city clerk time to schedule a special election for…June. If a majority of voters approve the override, it would take effect by July 1.
Video: Mayor Gives FY2010 Budget Briefing to Ward 3 on 3/16/09
Supporting documentation for the FY2010 city budget outlook is available at http://northamptonma.gov/fy2010/
Video: Finance Committee Meeting of 2/25/09 with FY2010 Budget Presentation; Schedule of Budget Briefings by Ward
Mayor’s Email Update March 2009: FY2010 Budget Information Available; Presentation to Ward 3 on March 16
I have also asked you all to provide us with ideas and suggestions for possible budget cuts and areas to cut back. I am deeply grateful for all of our neighbors who have so far sent in their thoughts, priorities, suggestions and concerns. We have added a webpage called The City Speaks [link], where I have posted these ideas. Some of them are actions we have already taken; some are actions we cannot take under the law; some bear closer scrutiny. I hope you will take some time to read the ideas our neighbors have suggested, and as always, let me know your thoughts as well, by email at mayor@northamptonma.gov.
The budget projection we have leaves us with a deficit of more than $6 million on the city side and $3 million on the school side. There is no way we can function with the same level of programs and services we are currently accustomed to with so dramatic a budget gap. Now more than ever we need to keep the community dialogue alive about the kind of community we want to live in and how our city government can best support that vision.