This calculator is designed to estimate the impact of the override on your tax bill. For each of the next 5 years, the calculator includes the additional taxes authorized by the override plus the normal 2.5% tax increase allowed by Proposition 2 1/2.
For example, a house valued at $400,000 would have taxes of $5,543.20 in 2027 and $6,118.66 in 2032 if there is no override approved. If the $11 million override is approved, that same house would be taxed at $6004.32 in 2027 and $7916.02 in 2031 — a 29% increase over a no vote for the same year.
The limitations of this calculator:
- Fire district taxes are not included. The fire districts are a separate tax entity with their own elected officials and town meetings, and they are not subject to Proposition 2 1/2. Their budget is also entirely separate from the town budget.
- Assessments may change. Proposition 2 1/2 limits the overall tax levy for the town. However, some houses may go up in value and some may go down, which means that your individual taxes may be effected differently. This calculator is an estimate assuming that you own keeps the same value.
Seniors, blind persons, disabled veterans and others may be eligible for various tax exemptions and credits which can offset the property tax increase. Learn more about available tax relief.
South Hadley Override Tax Calculator
Enter your home’s assessed value to estimate your town property tax under different override scenarios.
For each override option, the extra monthly cost column shows the difference from that same year if no override passes.
| Fiscal Year | No Override | $9M Override | Extra Monthly Cost | $11M Override | Extra Monthly Cost |
|---|
Property Tax by Year
The graph updates automatically using the assessed home value you enter above.
What each override outcome could mean for South Hadley
South Hadley is deciding between doing nothing, passing a $9 million override, or passing an $11 million override. These choices do not produce the same result. Here is a plain-language summary of what each path could mean for town and school services.
Severe cuts across town and schools
Without an override, South Hadley would have to close a large budget gap through deep reductions. This is the highest-impact scenario for residents.
- Major cuts to school staffing and programming, with significant increases in class sizes and reduction in student supports.
- Programs families rely on will be cut or eliminate, including sports, extracurriculars, honors, and AP offerings.
- Police, DPW, human services, inspections, and other municipal departments would face significant cuts.
- The public library would be at risk of major service reductions or closure-level impacts.
- The Senior Center would likely lose staff and services at a time when demand is growing.
- Residents would feel the impact in slower response times, fewer services, and reduced quality of life town-wide.
Limited cuts, but not full stability
The Budget Task Force describes this option as resulting in limited cuts. It would reduce the damage, but it would not fully preserve current service levels.
- Helps avoid the worst-case scenario and preserves more core services than a no-override outcome.
- Still requires some position and program reductions over the phase-in period.
- Would not fully maintain current school and town service levels.
- Some cuts would still be likely in schools and municipal departments as costs continue to rise.
- Leaves a projected $2 million deficit in FY31, meaning budget pressure does not go away.
- Best understood as a partial bridge, not a complete fix.
Closest to maintaining current services
The Budget Task Force recommended this option because it comes the closest to preserving current service levels while the town works on longer-term solutions.
- Produces the fewest cuts of the options discussed for the April vote.
- Comes closest to maintaining current school and municipal service levels.
- Offers the strongest path to protecting classrooms, student programming, and town operations.
- Gives South Hadley more time to pursue savings, new growth, PILOT revenue, and other reforms.
- Still does not eliminate the structural problem entirely; the report projects a $1.5 million deficit in FY31.
- Represents the most stable option for residents who want to avoid the broadest service losses.