The Problem

Despite the glaring, concrete challenges facing our communities, our local leaders are too often led down rabbit holes of big spending to solve so-called “problems” that aren’t actually important.

1. In Southwick, the town recently voted against issuing a $16 million bond to build out a municipal broadband project. Despite the town’s residents voting “no” on the project twice, proponents on the town council continue to support it. The council should listen to its residents and avoid borrowing millions of dollars to fund an unnecessary project. 

2. In Longmeadow, balancing the town’s budget each year has become increasingly difficult as the cost of maintaining current services continues to rise. To address this, the town has increased property taxes, budget cuts, and relied more heavily on bonding to fund essential projects. It is crucial that the Town Council use its resources wisely to protect residents and ensure long-term financial stability.

3. In Cambridge, funding concerns have left City Council members frustrated over the inability to fund new programs for residents. Despite this, Cambridge is still considering bonding nearly $200 million to build a government-owned broadband network. The city should focus on funding essential programs and infrastructure instead of pursuing this unnecessary project.

4. In Holyoke, pressure has continued to mount as the city works to keep closer track of its spending amid rising costs and growing budget concerns. This comes after Holyoke lost nearly $100,000 due to an inability to promptly recover owed funds, the result of a dysfunctional finance department. This is unacceptable from a city that should be protecting its residents in uncertain financial times.

5. In Bourne, town officials have been struggling to close a $1.9 million gap in the town's budget and have been considering either cutting funding for education and health services or raising taxes to generate new revenue. At the same time, town officials have proposed a digital equity plan that recommends building duplicative broadband infrastructure, which would require tens of millions of dollars of additional taxpayer investments. Bourne’s leaders should prioritize the urgent needs of the town, not projects that will further the burden on taxpayers.

6. In West Springfield, the town has continued to fund its initiatives by increasing property and other local taxes on residents. These tax hikes are largely driven by concerns over the town’s growing debt. This follows the decision to bond $11 million for the construction of a municipal broadband network, a project that has faced ongoing delays and complications.