Blog

Save South Hadley is glad Mount Holyoke College has taken a first step to help our community. This includes funding scholarships and field trips for South Hadley students and providing aid to the fire district that serves the college. South Hadley still needs to follow the Budget Task Force recommendations. This includes passing an override, […]

This morning, Save South Hadley sent the following letter to Jeffrey Cyr, Chair of the Selectboard, and Kevin Taugher, Chair of the Board of Assessors, in advance of their joint meeting to review tax exemptions. The joint meeting will take place April 7, 2026, 7PM at the Senior Center. Jeffrey Cyr, Chair, Selectboard Kevin Taugher, […]

To the Selectboard: As we ask residents to support a Proposition 2½ override, we must also commit—clearly and publicly—to strong financial oversight and accountability. The Save South Hadley Coalition,  with a steering committee made up of representatives from the Council on Aging, Libraries, Schools, Budget Task Force, Town Committees and Boards and other residents, is calling […]

If you’re trying to understand South Hadley’s finances, you’ve probably heard about the two fire districts. They are unusual, independent, and often misunderstood—but they are also a key part of how our town developed. How Did This System Develop? South Hadley’s fire districts date back to the 1800s, when different parts of town grew at […]

From time to time, a familiar suggestion comes up: “Why doesn’t the town just sell The Ledges to a developer and solve the budget problem?” It sounds simple. But in reality, it’s not a viable option—and it wouldn’t fix the problem even if it were. The Town Still Owes Money The Ledges was built using […]

There is no single fix. The Budget Task Force made clear that solving South Hadley’s budget problem requires multiple actions working together over time — not just an override. The Budget Task Force identified a structural deficit. If you haven’t already, see our breakdown of why the town is facing this gap. The Big Picture […]

SAVE SOUTH HADLEY The vote is three weeks away, and South Hadley needs you now more than ever.Every conversation at a neighbor’s door, every yard sign planted, every phone call or text message to a friend or acquaintance brings us one step closer to protecting the schools, services, and community we all love. There are […]

South Hadley is not an outlier. Across Massachusetts, cities and towns are confronting the same math: costs are rising faster than allowed revenue, federal relief has run out, and more communities are being pushed toward overrides or deep cuts. One of the most important things for voters to understand is that South Hadley’s budget crisis […]

One of the clearest findings of the Budget Task Force was that South Hadley is facing a structural budget deficit. And one of the most important reasons is the growing cost of students leaving the district through charter schools and school choice. $3.1 million Net annual loss from charter schools and school choice identified by […]

Residents of South Hadley have an opportunity to get clear, direct answers about the town’s finances and the proposed override. Town Administrator Lisa Wong and Assistant Town Administrator Chuck Romboletti are hosting a series of office hours and information sessions focused specifically on the budget and the override. These sessions are designed to give residents […]