[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6542392,"mediaKeyId","3585424-9c85dc37cfd3da5c76f2d62cf33f7cc7","parentId",3585424,"title","Tax collector and treasurer report rising cannabis excise, warn of postage costs; consolidation option shows modest savings","audioSeconds",156,"startMs",3004000,"endMs",3160000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3585424-9c85dc37cfd3da5c76f2d62cf33f7cc7&start=3004&end=3160","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3585424-9c85dc37cfd3da5c76f2d62cf33f7cc7/thumbnail_3004000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6542392/Holyoke-City/Hampden-County/Massachusetts/Tax-collector-and-treasurer-report-rising-cannabis-excise-warn-of-postage-costs-consolidation-option-shows-modest-savings","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6542392-3cd0387004fdeadb2f41a9bc5e916373/orig.mp4?Expires=1770422300&Signature=nsOEhxCbOwrP5CPjVWXfObfkhGEjZK4LK79wB4XloJtys40-cmB95c3SMNL8uJz8Ff5q2gaDMaZJK6UEji457Ur~szW1XB~xzGf3jodSwkcM~Z3WWy3mgV7hjRptkuq7so~g161nKooy3j0wLkfs6rxCJrnSSAOqsttAZyuug~Iolhi7j0WPNHctO1VR~06vE~eY2wOebbXmNd5Ri2Cd37agtpBF08X5Ogx8Iux2ooRrCOhif8mhA8YNeTdo7yVDpnUU~cWYEuhMa2TvRaxOO-Bv4YRoA8R2qL~dBEUu5FjlucIajkhuoedXbQsxZcpwXjHIZa3zmfFC2WbD5T88Pg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Holyoke City, MA","date","2025-05-29T00:00:00Z","article","Rory (Treasurer) and Laura (Tax Collector) briefed the council on tax collection, cannabis‑excise receipts and operational changes on May 28. Laura was on leave; the mayor and treasurer presented in her stead and praised her collection and outreach work.

Rory reported that Holyoke’s cannabis excise receipts have trended upward. He said the city received $640,895.23 in fiscal 2023 and $702,295.50 in fiscal 2024. For fiscal 2025 through three quarters, he said the city had collected $683,159.09 and that the fourth quarter figure will arrive later; March‑quarter collections historically have been the largest. Rory and councilors noted sales‑tax/excise receipts can vary with market changes and competition among operators.

On collections processes, Rory and Laura described active outreach before imposing liens. They said the tax collector’s office offers payment plans and attempts to contact taxpayers by phone and social media to arrange terms; only properties that reach lien or tax‑title stages are later advertised. Councilors and staff emphasized the office’s preference for written payment arrangements and noted staff coordination with permit and licensing divisions to block permits or licenses when taxes are due.

Rory explained postage increased because the deputy collector, who formerly covered billing postage, no longer pays those costs. That change moved postage expense to the general fund and contributed to a postage line increase in the treasurer’s budget (object code 53420). He said the administration is exploring electronic delivery and other efficiencies (ACH payments to vendors) to reduce future postage reliance.

On the optional treasurer–collector consolidation shown in the budget book, administration staff explained that part of the difference between separate budgets and an optional consolidated budget was an elected treasurer line and transitional budgeting. The optional consolidated budget shows roughly $43,000 in salary savings if the offices are merged and statutory modernization provisions apply; the mayor and treasurer noted that some line‑by‑line differences reflect internal reassignments (for example, payroll staff moving under a comptroller line in the optional budget). The treasurer said some transitional one‑time costs (such as Munis upgrade support) are included among professional‑services requests and are not expected to be recurring.

No formal vote or decision on consolidation was taken at the hearing. Councilors asked for additional documentation of the optional budget and of recurring versus one‑time costs before any formal vote on structural changes to elected offices.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Holyoke City Council Budget Hearing 5/28/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Treasurer Rory and interim presentation for Tax Collector Laura told the council on May 28 that Holyoke’s cannabis excise receipts have risen in recent years, collection staff emphasize payment plans and outreach, and postage costs increased after the deputy collector stopped covering mailing fees.","taxTitle","Holyoke City, Hampden County, Massachusetts","taxId",52807,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6542396,"Assessor reports new hire and audit plan; mayor’s budget trims administrative assistant",254,2476000,2730000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3585424-9c85dc37cfd3da5c76f2d62cf33f7cc7&start=2476&end=2730","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3585424-9c85dc37cfd3da5c76f2d62cf33f7cc7/thumbnail_2476000.jpg","/articles/6542396/Holyoke-City/Hampden-County/Massachusetts/Assessor-reports-new-hire-and-audit-plan-mayors-budget-trims-administrative-assistant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6542396-54c0964b7941173d7b49f201c48fe7a0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770422300&Signature=QKXCRbzIMer~pldpimtYjywlFa4hEHo1px-ANzGcTqaZOgb0y27Wg-UA7twR4qUzvuJ3JfQpqqQQeZMRaW4AINra9d-DS-IDhWo2L2rBL7tt12hg7AUMBHc0LGb9yIeD~XmTR8e-btKD20IgkEFTHwTjmQw13xe3ZoIzPbngy~NKRcf1NC6cg1jKKlJAqA8v3clQqosiy4nTKxeN4LQaVUcP4KNNTr7CicycNPHQ9XThLj45UdGwaIQM0hqoKQMeEw7~12hAmkYrQmnFhGni7F36g9UIZrkwnaSQmVIiIijrixKmpEHnhoL6-0R0MGxCKR6p3mIlYwxWFVl73W5EUw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Deb, the city assessor, told the council on May 28 that the assessor’s office budget includes contractual salary increases and a recently filled assessor position after a vacancy dating to December. She said her largest expense this year is professional assessment services, and that the budget includes a personal‑property audit intended to generate new taxable growth if recoverable assets are identified.

Deb said education funds in the assessor’s budget relate to training for the new assessor and certification of the third‑board member. When councilors pressed about the administrative assistant position, the mayor said the administration trimmed 18 positions across the budget to produce a balanced proposal and that five of those positions had incumbents. The administration characterized the cut as part of an overall exercise to reduce costs and find savings across departments.

Deb described the administrative assistant role as important and said the office had been operating with reduced staff for months: she said the office had been without that particular position for six months while the incumbent was on leave and that the vacancy has increased workload as she trains the new hire while catching up on outstanding business.

Councilors asked about the overlay (the reserve to cover tax abatements and assessment changes). Deb endorsed a $650,000 overlay figure for the coming year and recommended holding it at that level for this budget year, saying overlay needs are determined annually based on abatement filings, tax‑board cases and changes such as new veterans’ exemptions. She said the office’s five‑year recertification last year increased values and drove higher overlay needs at that time.

Councilors who raised staffing concerns suggested the administration may want to revisit the cut if fiscal conditions allow. The mayor said the city would continue to monitor departmental workloads and could consider transfers or supplemental requests later in the year if revenues permit.","Assessor Deb reported a new hire and a planned personal‑property audit; the mayor’s proposed budget trims an administrative assistant position in the assessor’s office, drawing council concern about workload and accuracy of property records.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6542401,"State withheld some Holyoke aid pending Schedule A; treasurer says cash flow managed and funds expected in June",335,2590000,2925000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3585424-9c85dc37cfd3da5c76f2d62cf33f7cc7&start=2590&end=2925","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3585424-9c85dc37cfd3da5c76f2d62cf33f7cc7/thumbnail_2590000.jpg","/articles/6542401/Holyoke-City/Hampden-County/Massachusetts/State-withheld-some-Holyoke-aid-pending-Schedule-A-treasurer-says-cash-flow-managed-and-funds-expected-in-June","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6542401-23316162b6299950f7e15c22a47d6e9c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770422300&Signature=Ccq0wYSvfFQRR22flkY2aDMOGfB3wnhGA-0GkmII2PE~4JP8mYOSwX9c~d6HVnmViS2IVRAChcP5NQsA~WvwPD9h1QXKonKEdm5WtHoT08at7VKQ7lfiCHtsC0zdRbf3Sc9cs3XJknB5MZGtyCbWLu33PCiW35JuT2CAgXUfYFeVSuDqmV6PEtEQIUGrwHe5VPzF5ejLnyYBOkgTipkUjMieZowE5-1~PJmkGE8GoB59Yg5DxfBHtNoYxBcMVuem5H1s-YeSAiLZRQOloDLKsho4Lirqu-04LJ0VJAsD3a0vrxmd1xiA2D6QFqS91k6E0--0t8jiHYmFeXOyLBDSNw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Councilors pressed the auditor and treasurer about a Department of Revenue (DOR) practice that withholds some state Cherry Sheet aid when a municipality has not filed the required Schedule A. Tanya (Auditor) said Schedule A had not yet been filed; Rory (Treasurer) told the council that the state begins withholding aid in February when a Schedule A is missing.

Rory said he had met with DOR and the Bureau of Accounts and that the state indicated the withheld aid would be released in June once the city’s reconciliations and Schedule A are complete. He told the council he has been managing cash flow by staging investments to mature in case cash was needed; he said the city had not engaged in short‑term external borrowing to cover the gap.

Councilors asked for specifics. When asked about the scale of the withheld aid, Rory estimated that the city receives roughly $8,000,000 in monthly local aid and suggested the cumulative withheld amount could be on the order of multiple monthly payments (discussed as a rough $32 million figure during the hearing). He said the state’s commitment this morning was that the aid would be released before June.

Auditor Tanya said the Schedule A and final free‑cash calculations remained a work in progress; she said staff were completing final adjustments and hoped to submit in time. The mayor and treasurer both said they had discussed the situation with state officials and felt confident the technical filing issues would be resolved shortly.

Councilors asked for a formal update to the council once the Schedule A is filed and the state releases the withheld funds. Rory agreed to provide a communication to the council president and to the council when the matter is resolved.

No formal action was taken; discussion focused on timing and the administration’s plan to complete reconciliations, file Schedule A and push the certified free‑cash amount to support year‑end budget adjustments.","Auditor and treasurer told the council the state withheld certain Cherry Sheet aid because the city had not filed Schedule A; the treasurer said the administration has managed cash flow and expects withheld aid to be released in June once filings are complete.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6542404,"Holyoke consultant presents multiyear forecast showing modest shortfalls, strong debt capacity",859,207000,1066000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3585424-9c85dc37cfd3da5c76f2d62cf33f7cc7&start=207&end=1066","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3585424-9c85dc37cfd3da5c76f2d62cf33f7cc7/thumbnail_207000.jpg","/articles/6542404/Holyoke-City/Hampden-County/Massachusetts/Holyoke-consultant-presents-multiyear-forecast-showing-modest-shortfalls-strong-debt-capacity","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6542404-12c44ea4e1bdcf9a1360e92f9c35c3b6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770422300&Signature=NVxI3Ln8vW~yPBP80TowBMRxJ4tTCLO0Y0N7Qmq2uuMsygosQH0tIByCZliBAp-szEUBza2oWCKsSM1cqxwUTR5WYo7-N27-P8C3mGENe2~mHrlRIjKWVgDLnLQjissyB1L0EbAP5owJy1RxzYat~Ysl~HjrW0eEJ1kPHCoGvGvsGVf-KHomjHCtSTixdlW8rwp5ALAI8frZ0srWetDAhF3QpAfcQELs5AJHxlAu5m4DrvYyszpEgTeYWP5x-533wQ47G78jNiw50U0jMoRiUfVbDGtEwL7p1jljxmU4m2sOv4kjE5LYHft6n6nPdeZPCBMaRwJcphCAvz0NhB5HIA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","TJ Plant, a consultant with Open Architects, told the Holyoke City Council on May 28 that his firm prepared a multiyear financial plan to help the city project revenues and expenditures and to guide capital decisions. The presentation uses conservative assumptions for local revenue, Chapter 70 and unrestricted general government aid, and a standard Prop 2½ approach to levy growth (prior-year levy plus 2.5 percent plus new growth).

Plant said the forecast rolls the mayor’s submitted budget forward under those assumptions and separates general government, public safety, education, human services and enterprise funds. He said the model projects to fiscal year 2030 and that, for a total budget he described as roughly $226,000,000, the near-term gap shown (about $1.3 million) is not “insurmountable” given the city’s overall size and the conservative assumptions used.

The plan assumes a $5,500,000 annual debt-service capacity to preserve the city’s ability to issue debt for capital projects as older debt retires. Plant emphasized the debt schedule shows principal falling off in coming years and that maintaining a stable annual principal-and-interest target would create room for new capital borrowing.

Plant and Mayor Joshua Garcia said the forecast is a tool, not a finalized plan. Garcia said the forecast will help councilors and administration “keep our finger on the pulse” but cautioned all assumptions remain subject to change as conference‑committee action, revenue developments and contract negotiations occur.

Councilors asked about several inputs. Plant described his assumptions: a 3 percent general aid increase, a 5 percent historical average for Chapter 70 (education) for the forecast period, and a 3 percent personnel increase used in the baseline. He said health‑insurance costs were modeled at 6 percent in the consultant work, though the mayor noted the budget itself uses a 9 percent health‑insurance assumption to build reserves for the city’s plan redesign and self‑insurance transition. Plant said the retirement estimate was taken from the retirement board’s schedule (PERAC) at about 3.5 percent.

Plant said he used the Senate’s conference numbers available at the time for state aid and that those figures could change in conference committee. He repeatedly described the model as configurable: “all these assumptions can be changed and played with,” he said, and councilors will receive an Excel version of the forecast after the hearing.

Councilors also pressed Plant and administration on capital needs. Plant said the debt profile leaves Holyoke well positioned to issue debt for projects, and Mayor Garcia said the administration will work with the consultant to create a five‑year capital improvement plan (CIP) to prioritize items such as cruisers and routine capital outlays once free cash and stabilization options are clearer.

The presentation included a breakdown of local receipts (meals, excise, cannabis excise, fees), Cherry Sheet offsets (assessments such as charter school and school choice), enterprise funds and Community Preservation Act receipts. Plant recommended maintaining conservative budgeting practices rather than relying on one‑time revenues.

The presentation ended with an emphasis on flexibility: the modeling is intended to allow the council and mayor to “pivot” if revenues differ from assumptions and to avoid relying on one‑time sources to balance operations.","Consultant TJ Plant presented a multiyear financial plan for Holyoke that uses conservative revenue assumptions and projects a small operating gap in the near term while preserving capacity for future debt-funded capital projects.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Tax collector and treasurer report rising cannabis excise, warn of postage costs; consolidation option shows modest savings

Assessor reports new hire and audit plan; mayor’s budget trims administrative assistant

State withheld some Holyoke aid pending Schedule A; treasurer says cash flow managed and funds expected in June

Holyoke consultant presents multiyear forecast showing modest shortfalls, strong debt capacity