South Hadley TM: Food trucks, school bus stop-arm cameras, farm zoning on Monday’s warrant

Little wiggle room: Amherst projects tighter spending increases in $110.5M budget for fiscal 2028

AMHERST — Initial projections for the fiscal 2028 budget indicate that spending increases may need to be more limited than in recent years. In a financial indicators presentation to town, school and library officials Monday, Town Manager Paul Bockelman said that increases to the municipal and elementary school budgets, the assessment for the regional schools and the contribution to the Jones Library would be held to 2.75% across the board. That is below the 3.5% increase provided in the initial budget forecast last year. “We’re projecting a modest budget increase this year,” Bockelman said. He explained that this projection is based […]

Amherst councilors cool to tax override as town grapples with $1M structural deficit

AMHERST — Some members of the Town Council have met the idea of increasing municipal revenue through a Proposition 2½ tax-cap override with a cool reception, though officials acknowledge limited options for immediately addressing an ongoing $1 million structural deficit. In a conversation among the Town Council, Finance Committee, School Committee, Library trustees and Budget […]

Belchertown voters to decide how to spend $340,896 in unexpected state aid

BELCHERTOWN — A late bump in state aid has left Belchertown with an unusual question for special Town Meeting on Monday: how to spend an extra $340,896. When the state budget came out of conference committee in late August, Belchertown received more than $500,000 above previous estimates. Of that amount, $161,675 in school choice funds […]

State Police, Holyoke police arrest suspect in string of 6 outdoor fires

HOLYOKE — A 43-year-old man was arrested early Friday and expected to be charged with attempted murder and multiple fire-related crimes in connection with six outdoor fires set around the city over the past week, including one that ignited a tent with a man sleeping inside. The arrest was made by State Police assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s Office and by Holyoke police, following an investigation into the fires, which authorities believe are connected, the Fire Marshal’s Office said in a statement. The suspect has not been named, however, a report from the office says he was likely to be […]

Around Amherst: Town soliciting parking, transportation ideas

AMHERST — Suggestions related to transportation and parking in Amherst can be made through a new online request form, with any ideas submitted to get a reviewed and discussed by the Transportation and Parking Commission. The service requests, which can be made at amherstma.gov/TPR, include any permanent changes to roads and sidewalks, such as placement of crosswalks, speed limits and truck restrictions, and improvements, amenities or traffic-calming measures. Bicycle and pedestrian safety concerns can also be noted, along with requests to change parking or to close roads and sidewalks for the long term, though for more immediate issues, such as potholes […]